crete

the largest Greek island in the Mediterranean

site of the Minoan civilization that reached its peak in 1600 BC

otheruses Crete, sometimes spelled Krete (Greek !''Κρήτη ''? / Kriti; see also List of traditional Greek place names) is the largest of the GreeceGreek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located at approximately coor d35N24E .Tourist attractions in Crete include archeological sites at Knossos, Phaistos, Gortys and many other places, the Venetian castle in Rethymno, the Samaria Gorge and many other minor gorges (Agia Irini, Aradena, etc).Crete was the location of the Minoan civilization (ca. 30th century BCE3000–1400s BCE1400 BCE), one of the first civilizations in Europe.

Geography - )]]Crete is one of the 13 regions of Greece. It is the biggest island in Greece and the second biggest (after Cyprus) of the East Mediterranean. Crete lies at the southern end of the Aegean Sea and covers an area of 8,336 km². Its population is 650,000 people (as of 2005). The island is 260 km long and varies in width from 60 km (measured from the Dion cape to the Lithinon cape), to only 12 km at the Isthmus of Ierapetra in eastern Crete. The coast is deeply indented, giving Crete over 1,000 km of shoreline. Crete lies approximately 160 km south of the Greek mainland.The island is extremely mountainous and is defined by a high mountain range crossing it from West to East, formed by three different groups of mountains. These are:

the White Mountains or ''Lefka Ori'' (up to 2,452 m high);

the Idi range (Psiloritis (coor d35.18N24.82E ) 2,456 m);

the Dikti mountains (up to 2,148 m high)These mountains gifted Crete with fertile plateaus like Lasithi, Omalos and Nidha, caves like Diktaion and Idaion cave, and gorges like the famous Gorge of Samaria.

Climate - Crete straddles two climatic zones, the Mediterranean and the North African, mainly falling within the former. As such, the climate in Crete is primarily temperate. The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea. The winter is fairly mild. Snow fall is practically unknown to the plains, but quite frequent in the mountains. During summer, average temperatures are in the high 20's-low 30's (Celsius). The exception can be the south coast, including the Messara plain and Asterousia mountains, which fall in the North African climatic zone and thus enjoys significantly more sunny days and high temperatures during the summer. Probably the best time to visit Crete is spring and autumn.

Economy - The economy of Crete, which was mainly based on farming, started changing visibly during the 1970s. While there is still an emphasis on farming and stock breeding, due to the climate and the terrain of the island, there is a drop in manufacturing and a big increase on the services industry (mainly tourism related). All three sectors of the Cretan economy (agriculture, processing-packaging, services), are directly connected and interdepended. Crete has an average per capita income which is close to 100% of the Greek average. Unemployment is at approximately 4%, half of that of Greece.The island has three significant airports, Nikos Kazantzakis at Heraklion, the military airport Daskalogiannis at Chania and a new public airport in Sitia.

Cities - Crete's principal cities are:

Heraklion (''Iraklion'' or ''Candia'') (275,000 inhabitants)

Chania (''Haniá'') (139,000 inhabitants)

Rethymno (69,290 inhabitants)

Ierapetra (21,025 inhabitants)

Agios Nikolaos (Greece)Agios Nikolaos (19,000 inhabitants)

Sitia (9,075 inhabitants)

Political organisation - The island of Crete is a peripheries of Greeceperiphery of Greece, consisting of four Prefectures of Greeceprefectures (Greek languageGreek: !νόμοι ):

Chania PrefectureChania

Heraklion PrefectureHeraklion

Lasithi

Rethymno PrefectureRethymnoFor amateur radio purposes it is considered to be a separate "entity," prefix SV9.

Tourism - Crete is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece. Fifteen percent of all arrivals in Greece come through the city of Iraklion (port and airport), while charter flights to Iraklion were last year 20% of the total of charter flights in Greece. In sum more than two million tourists visited Crete last year. This increase in tourism is reflected on the number of hotel beds, which increased in Crete by 53% from 1986 to 1991 while in the rest of Greece the increase was 25%. Today the tourism infrastructure in Crete caters to all tastes. There is accommodation of every possible category, from large luxury hotels with all the facilities (swimming pools, sports and recreation facilities etc.), to smaller family owned apartments, to camping facilities. Visitors can arrive at the island through two international airports in Iraklion and Hania, or by boat to the ports of Iraklion, Hania, Rethimno and Agios Nikolaos.

See also -

Geography of Crete

History of Crete

Music of Crete

Former countries in Europe after 1815

External links - CommonsCategory:Crete

cretan-music.gr - Traditional Cretan Music (Greek)

cretetravel.com - Guide to Crete for Visitors

stat.psu.edu - Transportation

travel-to-crete.com - Travel to Crete with photos, videos and 360 panoramas

explorecrete.com - Explore Crete with the eyes of the locals and the friends of Crete

climbincrete.com - Mountaineering and Trekking in Crete

uch.gr - University of Crete

tuc.gr - Technical University of Crete

teicrete.gr - Technological Educational Institute of Crete

interkriti.org - Your Gateway to Crete - A complete guide Places, Culture, Hotels, Sights...

sfakia-crete.com - Sfakia-Crete History, Culture, Nature, Photos.

crete.tournet.gr - Holidays in Crete - Hotels, Car Rental

west-crete.com - West Crete

eastcrete.com - East Crete

frappe-magazine.com - frappé - Your free island magazine for western CretePeripheries of Greece Category:Crete *Category:Islands of GreeceCategory:Peripheries of GreeceCategory:Former countries in EuropeCategory:NUTS 2 Statistical Regions of !Europear:كريتbg:К
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Travel guide to the island of Crete
A detaled travel guide to the islnd of Crete.
http://www.creteonthe.net/

Singles Holidays
Holidays for single people and solo travellers to Spain, Greece, Turkey, India, Crete, Egypt and many other popular destinations.
http://www.travelone.com

The online guide of Eastern Crete
Gorges,beaches,archaeologcal sites,hiking,history accommodation,car rental and more than 1400 photos from eastern Crete.
http://www.east-crete.net/

Two beautifully renovated village houses to rent in West Crete.
Two traditional stone houses for rent. Independent self-catering holiday accommodation in Gavalohori village, Apokoronas, western Crete.
http://www.villagecrete.com/

Itanos Municipality, Crete,Vai, Palekastro, Zakros
The Eastern most municipality in Crete, perhaps the best choice for your holidays
http://www.palaikastro.com/

SCUBAKRETA - Unterwasseratemgerät-Tauchen Mitte Tauchen Kretas professionellstes und Tauchen Ausbildung - SCUBAKRETA - Crete's most professional diving center Scuba Diving and Diving Education
Das Scubakreta tauchzentrun bietet hoechste tauchqualitaet,nach SSI,PADI und CMAS norm.Tauchensie in Kreta in kleinen gruppen,in sorgfaeltig ausgewaehlten tauchgebieten. Heraklion, Hersonisos, Kreta, Griechenland
http://www.scubakreta.gr/

Sailing and Yacht Charter Holidays Greece
Useful information, tips and advice for anyone planning a sailing holiday in Greece year, including charter advice, weather news, sailing conditions and Greek island bases.
http://www.sailing-yacht-charter-greece.com/

Westrock Property Brokers
We are International Property Brokers with over 5,000 properties listed worldwide.
http://www.westrockpropertybrokers.com/

Lefka apartments - Holiday apartments in Chania, Crete
Lefka apartments offer charming self catering accommodation for your holidays in Chania and Crete. It is a small family - run hotel for holidays, located only 2 ½ Kms of Chania city center. Accommodation consists of 8 studios and 8 apartments, with large swimming pool, beautiful garden and private parking space.
http://www.lefka-apartments.gr/

Thalassa Apartments
In glamorous Crete, 32 Km of westwards city Chania in the sandy beach of gulf Kissamos and 5 Km from the beautiful town of Kissamos, are found the Thalassa Apartments
http://www.thalassa-apts.gr/

Hotels in Greece
Hotels in Greece is very easy to use hotelguide with information, photos and rates of hotels all over Greece. Large number of hotels. Supporting 3 languages German, English and Greek.
http://www.hotels-in-greece.com/

Calergi Residence. Stone Houses in Crete. Hotel appartments in Crete . holidays in Crete . houses for sale
calergi residence, company for hotel apartments to rent and stone houses to sell in Crete, Greece
http://www.calergi.gr/

Sailing Yacht Charter Greece
Sailing vacations in Greece & Greek islands, bareboat yacht charter, skippered & crewed sailing yachts, flotilla sailing holidays, luxury motor sailors, scheduled cruises, berth charter cruises & sailing courses.
http://www.odysseysailing.gr

La Boscaglia walking tours
Association of professional guides, who organize walking treks (tours with a backpack), through wild and untouched regions throughout Europe in Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Crete, Cape Verde, Abruzzo, Calabria, Corsica, Spain, Dolomiti, etc. In this website are our walking philosophy (slow pace, natural cooking, healing with herbs, etc.), our detailed tours program, a market of second-hand equipments, archives about walking as a therapy, links with websites of a special value, and information about subscribing to the fortnightly newsletter CamminareInforma.
http://www.boscaglia.it/

Singles Holidays
Holidays for single people and solo travellers to Spain, Greece, Turkey, India, Crete, Egypt and many other popular destinations.
http://www.travelone.co.uk

TRAVEL TO GREEK ISLANDS
The best web site, about you find hotels, studios, rooms, rent a car or bike...
http://www.best-islands.com/

evgenia studios
studios in Chania
http://www.evgenia-studios.gr/

Travel to Crete Greece. Special offers in hotel rates in Crete
Travel to Crete with Skoutelis Travel. Great offers in hotels in Crete and holiday packages in Crete Greece
http://www.skoutelistravel.gr/

Properties for sale in Crete
Olympus Real Estate established for 18 years in western Crete dealing with the Greek market. Olympus real estate now offers all its invaluable knowledge to the increasing demand of overseas customers. We can provide a wide range of services (from buying and selling properties all over Crete island to construction services and property management). We will ease your path through legalities purchase, build and relocation with a team of English speaking experts in every field.
http://www.cretanproperties.gr/

HANIA PARADISE D.C.
Hania Paradise Dive Center -certified by PADI and CMAS- since 1996 invites you to explore the idyllic sea of Crete in the bay of Hania. The area is well known for its golden beaches, crystal clear waters, friendly atmosphere and marine life. Here you will enjoy diving into a colorful underwater world, discover hidden treasures and experience the endless famous blue of the Mediterranean.
http://www.haniadive.com/

Apartments Zorbas on Crete
Hotel Apartments and Studios for rent at 40 mt from the beach of the picturesque bay of Agia Pelagia village on the north coast of Crete island.
http://www.zorbas.gr/

University of Crete
Official home page of the University of Crete, located in Heraklion.
http://www.uch.gr/

Interkriti
Information on accommodations, tourism, history, customs, and sports. Contains a virtual tour, chat room, and bulletin board.
http://www.interkriti.org/

FORTHnet
Υπηρεσίες σταθερής τηλεφωνίας και internet.
http://www.forthnet.gr