Samaria Gorge Crete

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 05 May 2011 20:24

White Mountains’ National Park is the only national park in Crete. It centres around the Samariá gorge, at an altitude of 1,200m and continues down to Ayia Rouméli, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding slopes and a number of smaller gorges branching off from it, Samaria Gorge forms the whole of the area designated as a national park, a status that offers protection to over 450 species of plant and animal, 70 of which are endemic to Crete. In the prefecture of Chania (also written “Hania”), the Samaria gorge is the longest in Europe (total length 16km), and one of the most impressive gorges in Greece. It starts from Xylóskalo, at an altitude of 1,230m. The width of the gorge is 150m at its widest point and 3m at its narrowest.

A trip through the Samariá Gorge

• Let’s set off from the northern entrance to the gorge at Xylóskalo and follow the path as far as the old settlement of Samariá. The route continues parallel with the river which flows through the gorge among dense forests, cutting across it in places.

Samaria Gorge

• The most striking section of the route is the part after the abandoned village where a pass leads through the towering rocks. The place is called “Pórtes” (Doors) or “Sideróportes” (Iron Doors). The width here does not exceed three meters, making it the narrowest point, while the rock face here reaches up to an altitude of 200 metres. Here, in March 1770, during the rebellion of Daskaloyannis, Yannis Bonatos and 200 others from the Sfakia region managed to hold off a large Turkish force and eventually forced it into a hasty retreat. The same thing happened at the other end of the gorge in the north at Xyloskalo, where in the darkness and mist the renowned “Nyktopolemistés” (Night-time Warriors) of Sfakia attacked the “Seytan Takimi” (Demons) soldiers in order to save the women and children who had sought refuge in the gorge after the failure of the 1770 rebellion. The gorge, which is, essentially, a natural fortress, was often used by the indomitable Cretans as a refuge and base during their rebellions against the Ottoman authorities. But humans have been present in the gorge since as early as the Neolithic Age and their activities have not only been military. There are many other indications of human activity in the gorge. There were prehistoric settlements and a shrine to Apollo. The gorge was also the site of the ancient towns of Tarra and Kaino, where the Cretan goddess Britomartis was born. In addition, the gorge also has the remains of a number of Byzantine temples.

The going is easier along the rest of the route, and the walk is a great build up for tired travelers planning on a refreshing dip in the deep blue waters of Ayia Roumeli, or those about to wait patiently for the boat to Loutró and Hóra Sfakion.

Content & Image courtesy of the Greek National Tourism Office

Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 May 2011 20:36 )