Crete is the largest island of Greece and second biggest (after Cyprus) in the Eastern Mediterranean sea. Crete is located at the southern end of the Aegean Sea and covers a region of 8.336 km². Its population is 601.131 people (inventory of 2001). The island’s length is 260km and its width is varying from 60km (measured from the cape of Dion to the cape of Lithino), down to 12km by the isthmus of Ierapetra in eastern Crete. Its coastline offers great geographical variety, thus providing Crete with more than 1000km of coast. Crete is located, roughly 160km south of mainland Greece. The island is exceptionally mountainous and it is defined by a line of high mountains, formed from three different groups that cross the island from the west to the east. These are:

Lefka Ori (2.452m)

Mountain range of Idi (Psiloritis (35.18° N 24.82° E 2.456m).

Mountain of Dekti (2.148m).

These mountains provide Crete with a fertile plateaux such as the Lasithi plateaux, Omalos and Neda, caverns, such as the Djktaio and the Idaio andro and canyons, such as the famous canyon of Samaria, the canyon of Imbrou, the Koyrtaliotiko canyon etc.

Climate

Crete belongs to the Mediterranean climatic zone that gives the main characteristics to its climate. The climate in Crete is classified as a temperate climate. The atmosphere can be humid, depending on your proximity to the sea. Winter is gentle and humid with sufficient rainfall - more in the western parts of Crete. Snowfall is infrequent on the plains, but it does occur in the mountainous regions. During summertime, medium temperatures reach the 25-30 degrees (Celsius), consistently lower than those of continental Greece. On the southern coast, Messara's plain and the Asterousion Mountains included, people enjoy more sunny days and higher temperatures during summertime, in comparison to the rest of the island.

Cities

The island of Crete is one of 13 regions of Greece and is constituted by four prefectorial departments:

Heraklion (292 489 residents)

Lasithi (76 319 residents)

Rethimno (81 936 residents)

Chania (150 387 residents)

Transportation means

Crete is connected by air with most cities of Greece via its two international airports in Chania and Heraklion. It is also connected with many cities in Europe with either scheduled or non scheduled charter flights. By ship every day there are 3 boats to and from Crete. From Athens the boats leave from the harbour of Piraeus and from Crete from the harbours of Souda (Chania), Heraklion and Rethimno.

In mainland Crete, for your transportation, there are long distance buses (KTEL) that connect the prefectures and the villages of the island.

In Crete there are Public Hospitals in all major cities as well as many private clinics and hospitals.If you are covered by IKA National Insurance Fund (either with the reciprocal arrangements such as the European Health Card or E121 form, or by working and contributing in Greece) or another Greek National Insurance scheme, you will have access to free treatment and hospital care with doctors and specialists working in the public health system.

Chania

Chania prefecture is one of the four prefectures of Crete; it covers the westernmost quarter of the island. Its capital is the city of Chania. Chania borders only one other prefecture, that of Rethymno Prefecture to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea, and to the west and south by the Mediterranean Sea. The prefecture also includes the southernmost island in Europe, Gavdos and is divided into 5 provinces: Apokoronas, Kissamos, Kydonia, Selino, and Sfakia.

Chania prefecture, often informally termed 'Western Crete', is a beautiful and in many parts unspoilt part of the island. Districts include verdant Apokoronas, mountainous Sfakia, and Selino in the far South West corner. Some other notable towns in the Chania prefecture are: Hóra Sfakíon, Kastelli-Kissamos, Paleochora, Maleme, Vrisses, Vamos, Georgioupolis and Kalives.The natural park of Samaria Gorge, a major tourist attraction and a refuge for the rare Cretan wild goat or kri kri, is in the South of the prefecture of Chania.

The White Mountains or Lefka Ori, through which the Samaria, Aradena, Imbros and other gorges run, are the limestone peaks topped by snow until May that occupy much of Chania prefecture. They contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest peak in this area is Pahnes, at 2,452 meters above sea level.Western Crete is popular with tourists for its spring flowers that linger on into early May in the mountains. Birdwatching is also popular, with the lammergeier and golden eagle especially sought for. As an island, Crete has many endemic species of plant and animal.Crete's only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas, is in the prefecture close to the border with Rethymno Prefecture, 47 km from Chania. It is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. The lake used to be called 'Korisia' after ancient 'Korion', a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena. The lake used to be reportedly full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourists. Tavernas and pedalo rental shops line part of the shore. Overall, however, the lake retains its beauty, the White Mountains reflected in the mirror-like waters. 

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