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Crete is the largest Greek island - 260km wide from E-W and 12-60km wide N-S and is mountainous with a number of gorges, such as the Samariá Gorge, Imbros Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, Ha Gorge, Platania Gorge, the Gorge of the Dead (at Kato Zakros, Sitia) and Richtis Gorge and (Richtis) waterfall at Exo Mouliana in Sitia.
population 600,000, climate is primarily Mediterranean rather than North African
1st human settlement 130,000yrs ago but pre-humans walked there 5.6mya
was the centre of Europe's first advanced civilisation, the Minoan (c. 2700–1420 BC) and in 1420 BC, the Minoan civilisation was overrun by the Mycenean civilisation from mainland Greece
The Gortyn code (5th century BC) is evidence for how codified civil law established a balance between aristocratic power and civil rights.
in 1923, the muslim population left Crete in an exchange between Greece and Turkey
unlike mainland Greece, thanks to Hercules, there are no animals that are dangerous to humans and the snakes are not poisonous to man
3 significant airports, the main one is Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion
capital is Heraklion and 2nd main city is Chania while the city of Rethymnon is half way between
The Palace of Knossos, a 6,000-year-old Minoan palace is 6km south of Heraklion port
Old harbor in Chania and Venetian port, Agora market and Odos Skridlof, where you can buy great handmade leather goods.
Pink sand beach Elafonissi, west of Chania while the 16km long Samaria Gorge and 2300m elevation sometimes snow covered peaks is south of Chania
Lagoon Balos on the far north-west tip
the east end has Gouves, Malia, Sisi and Agios Nikolaos (1hr drive from Heraklion)
Phaistos Minoan Palace and the southern beach of Matala is 1hr drive south of Heraklion
wild flowers are in abundance in May
peak tourist season is from mid-July through August
many hotels and restaurants close from late Oct-mid April or May
rainfall can be heavy in Jan, Feb
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