Geography
An island of contradictions at the crossroads of three continents, Europe, Africa and Asia, Crete is a distinctive island with varied landscape, wonderful sea, golden beaches, mild climate and long hours of sunshine.
It is the largest island in Greece (8.260 sq. klm) and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean. Its terrain is mountainous and four large ranges mark the landscape. The White mountains, in the west of the island, Ida or Psiloritis - the highest mountain of all the Aegean islands - in central Crete, and Dikti Massive in the east.
Several plateaus, caves and gorges can be found in Crete. There are only a few small rivers and only one small lake in the west, which is called Kournas.
Although a mountainous island with few flat areas, it has rich agricultural production due to its fertile soil and favourable climate.
Administratively, Crete is divided into 4 prefectures: Heraklion, Chania, Rethymno and Lassithi.
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Heraklion
The prefecture of Heraklion is the biggest on the island and is surrounded by Ida mountains and Lassithi
Chania
The prefecture of Chania occupies the west section of the island. It's a mainly mountainous region with the White Mountains
Rethymno
The prefecture of Rethymno lies between two large mountain ranges, the White mountains and Ida
Lassithi
Lassithi is the easternmost prefecture of Crete. Agios Nikolaos, the capital of the prefecture is a cosmopolitan, coastal town on Mirabello bay.
