Editing Crete (section)

==Physical geography and climate==
{{Main|Geography of Greece}}
[[File:Mount Ida chain Messara plain from Phaistos Crete Greece.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Messara Plain]]]]
[[File:Vai R02.jpg|thumb|250px|The palm beach of [[Vai (Crete)|Vai]]]]

[[File:Lefka Ori.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Lefka Ori]]]]
[[File:Psiloritis3(js).jpg|thumb|250px|View of [[Psiloritis]]]]

Crete is the largest island in Greece and the fifth largest island in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. It is located south of almost the rest of the country, in the southern part of the [[Aegean Sea]] separating the Aegean from the [[Libyan Sea]].

===Island morphology===

The island has an elongated shape: it spans {{convert|260|km|mi|abbr=on}} from east to west, is {{convert|60|km|mi|abbr=on}} at its widest point, and narrows to as little as {{convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} (close to [[Ierapetra]]). Crete covers an area of {{convert|8336|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, with a coastline of {{convert|1046|km|mi|abbr=on}}; to the north, it broaches the [[Sea of Crete]] ({{langx|el|Κρητικό Πέλαγος|links=no}}); to the south, the [[Libyan Sea]] ({{langx|el|links=no|Λιβυκό Πέλαγος}}); in the west, the [[Myrtoan Sea]], and toward the east the Carpathian Sea. It lies approximately {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the Greek mainland.

There are a number of peninsulas and gulfs on the north side of Crete, from west to east these include: [[Gramvousa Peninsula|Gramvousa]] peninsula, gulf of Kissamos, Rodopos peninsula, [[gulf of Chania]], [[Akrotiri, Crete|Akrotiri]] peninsula, [[Souda Bay]], Apokoronas cape, gulf of [[Almyros|Almiros]], gulf of [[Heraklion]], Aforesmenos cape, gulf of [[Mirabello Bay|Mirabello]], gulf of [[Sitia]] and the [[Cape Sideros|Sideros]] peninsula. On the south side of Crete is the gulf of [[Messara Plain|Messaras]] and [[Cape Lithinon]].

===Mountains and valleys===
<!--Linked from [[:Category:Mountains of Crete]]-->

Crete is mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to east, formed by six different groups of mountains:
*The White Mountains or [[Lefka Ori]] {{convert|2453|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*The Idi Range ([[Psiloritis]]) {{convert|2456|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*[[Asterousia Mountains]] {{convert|1231|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*[[Mount Kedros|Kedros]] {{convert|1777|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*The [[Dikti|Dikti Mountains]] {{convert|2148|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*[[Thrypti]] {{convert|1489|m|ft|abbr=on}}

These mountains lavish Crete with valleys, such as [[Amari Valley|Amari valley]], fertile plateaus, such as [[Lasithi Plateau|Lasithi plateau]], [[Omalos]] and [[Nidha]]; caves, such as [[Gourgouthakas]], [[Diktaion]], and [[Idaion]] (the birthplace of the ancient Greek god [[Zeus]]); and a number of gorges.

The mountains have been seen as a key feature of the island's distinctiveness, especially since the time of Romantic travellers' writing. Contemporary Cretans distinguish between highlanders and lowlanders; the former often claim to reside in places affording a higher/better climatic and moral environment. In keeping with the legacy of Romantic authors, the mountains are seen as having determined their residents' 'resistance' to past invaders which relates to the oft-encountered idea that highlanders are 'purer' in terms of less intermarriages with occupiers. For residents of mountainous areas, such as [[Sfakians|Sfakia]] in western Crete, the aridness and rockiness of the mountains is emphasised as an element of pride and is often compared to the alleged soft-soiled mountains of others parts of Greece or the world.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kalantzis |first1=Konstantinos |title=Tradition in the Frame: Photography, Power, and Imagination in Sfakia, Crete |date=2019 |publisher=Indiana University Press |isbn=978-0-253-03713-8 |pages=23–58 |url=http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=809810 |access-date=2 October 2019 |archive-date=16 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216181203/http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=809810 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Gorges, rivers and lakes===
The island has 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Gorges/Lassithi-gorges/kato-zakros-gorge-deads-gorge/ |title=Gorge of the Dead |publisher=Cretanbeaches.com |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-date=25 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425235509/http://www.cretanbeaches.com/Gorges/Lassithi-gorges/kato-zakros-gorge-deads-gorge/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/gorges-of-crete/gorges-in-lassithi-prefecture/641-richtis-gorge.html |title=Richtis gorge |publisher=Cretanbeaches.com |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731062158/http://www.cretanbeaches.com/en/gorges-of-crete/gorges-in-lassithi-prefecture/641-richtis-gorge.html |archive-date=31 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://candia.wordpress.com/photos/photo-2010/richtis-gorge-april-2010/ |title=Richtis beach and gorge |publisher=Candia.wordpress.com |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=13 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/canyon/richtis-gorge-and-waterfall/61078/ |title=Richtis gorge and waterfall |publisher=Worldreviewer.com |date=25 February 2011 |access-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012185413/http://www.worldreviewer.com/travel-guides/canyon/richtis-gorge-and-waterfall/61078/ |archive-date=12 October 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The rivers of Crete include the [[Ieropotamos River|Geropotamos River]], the Koiliaris, the Anapodiaris, the Almiros, the Giofyros, the Keritis, and Megas Potamos. There are only two freshwater lakes in Crete: [[Lake Kournas]] and [[Lake Agia]], which are both in [[Chania (regional unit)|Chania regional unit]].<ref>[http://www.crete.tournet.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1155&lang=en Photos of Agia Lake] Crete TOURnet.</ref> [[Lake Voulismeni]] at the coast, at Aghios Nikolaos, was formerly a freshwater lake but is now connected to the sea, in [[Lasithi]].<ref>[http://www.aghiosnikolaos.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=35 Lake Voulismeni] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720152021/http://www.aghiosnikolaos.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=35 |date=20 July 2011 }} aghiosnikolaos.eu</ref> Three artificial lakes created by dams also exist in Crete: the lake of [[Aposelemis Dam]], the lake of Potamos Dam, and the lake of Mpramiana Dam.

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">
File:HaGorgeExit.jpg|[[Ha Gorge]]
File:Samaria Gorge 09.jpg|[[Samariá Gorge]]
File:Crete Aradaina3 tango7174.jpg|Aradaina Gorge
File:Venetian Bridge over Megalopótamos River, Préveli, Crete.jpg|[[Kingdom of Candia|Venetian]] Bridge over Megalopotamos River
</gallery>

===Surrounding islands===
{{Main|List of Greek islands#Cretan islands}}
{{GeoGroup|article=List of islands of Greece|section=Cretan islands of the Aegean Sea}}
{{GeoGroup|article=List of islands of Greece|section=Cretan islands of the Libyan Sea}}
[[File:Crete2022OSM.png|thumb|Detailed map of Crete and outlying islands]]
A large number of islands, [[islet]]s, and rocks hug the coast of Crete. Many are visited by tourists, some are only visited by [[Archaeology|archaeologists]] and [[biologist]]s. Some are [[Environmental protection|environmentally protected]]. A small sample of the islands includes:
*[[Gramvousa]] ([[Kissamos]], Chania) the pirate island opposite the Balo lagoon
*[[Elafonisi]] (Chania), which commemorates a shipwreck and an Ottoman massacre
*[[Chrysi (island)|Chrysi]] island ([[Ierapetra]], [[Lasithi]]), which hosts the largest natural ''[[Juniperus macrocarpa]]'' forest in Europe
*[[Paximadia]] island (Agia Galini, [[Rethymno]]) where the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis were traditionally believed to be born
*The Venetian fort and leper colony at [[Spinalonga]] opposite the beach and shallow waters of [[Elounda]] ([[Agios Nikolaos, Crete|Agios Nikolaos]], Lasithi)
*[[Dionysades]] islands which are in an environmentally protected region together with the Palm Beach Forest of [[Vai (Crete)|Vai]] in the municipality of [[Sitia]], Lasithi

Off the south coast, the island of [[Gavdos]] is located {{convert|26|nmi|km|0}} south of [[Hora Sfakion]] and is the [[Extreme points of Europe|southernmost]] point of [[Europe]].

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of Greece}}
Crete straddles two climatic zones, the [[Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] and the [[semi-arid climate]], mainly falling within the former. As such, the climate in Crete is primarily a [[hot-summer mediterranean|hot-summer Mediterranean]] (''Csa'') climate while some areas in the [[Lentas#Climate|south]] and east have a [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BSh''). The higher elevations fall into the warm-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] category (''Csb'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Latest Conditions in Xyloskalo, Chania, Crete Island |url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/samaria/ |access-date=2023-07-03 |website=penteli.meteo.gr}}</ref> while the mountain peaks (>2,000 meters) might feature a cold-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csc'') or a [[continental climate]] (''Dfb'' or ''Dfc''). The atmosphere can be quite humid, depending on the proximity to the sea, while winter is fairly mild. Snowfall is common on the mountains between November and May, but rare in the low-lying areas.

[[File:Flag harbour Chania Crete Greece.jpg|thumb|250px|Flag harbour Chania, Crete, Greece]]
The south coast, including the [[Mesara Plain]] and [[Asterousia Mountains]], falls in the North African climatic zone, enjoying significantly more sunny days and high temperatures throughout the year. There, [[date palm]]s bear fruit, and [[Swallow (bird)|swallows]] remain year-round rather than migrate to [[Africa]]. The fertile region around [[Ierapetra]], on the southeastern corner of the island, has year-round agricultural production, with summer vegetables and fruit produced in [[greenhouse]]s throughout the winter.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rackham |first1=O |last2=Moody |first2=J |year=1996 |title=The Making of the Cretan Landscape |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=9780719036477 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k4dHmA9jq4wC}}</ref> Western Crete (Chania province) receives more rain and the soils there suffer more erosion compared to the Eastern part of Crete.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Panagos|first1=Panagos|last2=Christos|first2=Karydas|last3=Cristiano|first3=Ballabio|last4=Ioannis|first4=Gitas|title=Seasonal monitoring of soil erosion at regional scale: An application of the G2 model in Crete focusing on agricultural land uses|journal=International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation|volume=27|pages=147–155|doi=10.1016/j.jag.2013.09.012|year=2014|bibcode=2014IJAEO..27..147P}}</ref>

Average annual temperatures reach up to 21.6&nbsp;°C in [[Psari Forada]] which is located in South Crete. Crete holds the record for the highest temperatures ever recorded in [[Europe]] during October, November, January and February from [[World Meteorological Organization]] stations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=2999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105083816/https://meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=2999 | archive-date=5 November 2023 | title=Meteo.gr: Πανευρωπαϊκό ρεκόρ θερμοκρασιών οι 35 βαθμοί στην Κρήτη το Σάββατο 04/11 - Μεγάλο πλήθος και διασπορά φαινομένων στη χώρα }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://e-kairos.gr/records/resultsmax.php | title=Greek weather records - Temperature and precipitation records in Greece }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=1591|title = Meteo.gr: Τα δύο ακραία πρόσωπα του καιρού στην Ευρώπη το Σ/Κ 9-10 Ιανουαρίου 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/vrysses/NOAAYR.TXT | title=32.1C February record Vryses NOA | publisher=[[National Observatory of Athens]] | access-date=14 February 2024 | archive-date=23 February 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223061409/http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/vrysses/NOAAYR.TXT | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://stratus.meteo.noa.gr/data/bulletins/deltio_noa022010.pdf | title=NOA February 2010 climate bulletins | publisher=[[National Observatory of Athens]] | access-date=14 February 2024}}</ref> According to the [[Hellenic National Meteorological Service]], South Crete receives the most sunshine in [[Greece]] with more than 3,257 hours of sunshine per year.<ref name="Climatic Atlas of Greece">{{cite web | url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/ | title=Climatic Atlas of Greece | publisher=[[Hellenic National Meteorological Service]] | access-date=4 August 2022}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Heraklion 1955–2010 ([[HNMS]])
| metric first = yes
|width = 70%
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 29.9
| Feb record high C = 28.8
| Mar record high C = 34.0
| Apr record high C = 37.5
| May record high C = 38.0
| Jun record high C = 41.3
| Jul record high C = 43.6
| Aug record high C = 44.5
| Sep record high C = 39.5
| Oct record high C = 37.0
| Nov record high C = 32.8
| Dec record high C = 28.5
| Jan high C = 15.3
| Feb high C = 15.5
| Mar high C = 17.0
| Apr high C = 20.1
| May high C = 23.6
| Jun high C = 27.3
| Jul high C = 28.9
| Aug high C = 28.8
| Sep high C = 26.6
| Oct high C = 23.6
| Nov high C = 20.2
| Dec high C = 17.1
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 12.1
| Feb mean C = 12.2
| Mar mean C = 13.6
| Apr mean C = 16.6
| May mean C = 20.4
| Jun mean C = 24.5
| Jul mean C = 26.4
| Aug mean C = 26.3
| Sep mean C = 23.7
| Oct mean C = 20.3
| Nov mean C = 16.8
| Dec mean C = 13.8
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 9.1
| Feb low C = 8.9
| Mar low C = 9.8
| Apr low C = 12.0
| May low C = 15.1
| Jun low C = 19.2
| Jul low C = 21.9
| Aug low C = 22.0
| Sep low C = 19.5
| Oct low C = 16.7
| Nov low C = 13.5
| Dec low C = 10.9
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = 0.0
| Feb record low C = -0.8
| Mar record low C = 0.3
| Apr record low C = 4.2
| May record low C = 6.0
| Jun record low C = 12.2
| Jul record low C = 14.5
| Aug record low C = 16.6
| Sep record low C = 12.0
| Oct record low C = 8.7
| Nov record low C = 4.2
| Dec record low C = 2.4
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 91.0
| Feb rain mm = 69.0
| Mar rain mm = 53.4
| Apr rain mm = 28.2
| May rain mm = 13.4
| Jun rain mm = 2.9
| Jul rain mm = 0.8
| Aug rain mm = 0.9
| Sep rain mm = 16.7
| Oct rain mm = 59.4
| Nov rain mm = 59.6
| Dec rain mm = 85.6
| Jan rain days = 16.0
| Feb rain days = 13.6
| Mar rain days = 11.4
| Apr rain days = 7.6
| May rain days = 4.6
| Jun rain days = 1.3
| Jul rain days = 0.3
| Aug rain days = 0.5
| Sep rain days = 2.8
| Oct rain days = 7.5
| Nov rain days = 10.6
| Dec rain days = 15.2
| year rain days = 
| Jan humidity = 68.4
| Feb humidity = 66.4
| Mar humidity = 65.9
| Apr humidity = 62.3
| May humidity = 61.2
| Jun humidity = 57.0
| Jul humidity = 57.1
| Aug humidity = 59.1
| Sep humidity = 61.9
| Oct humidity = 65.7
| Nov humidity = 67.9
| Dec humidity = 68.3
| year humidity = 
| Jan sun = 119.9
| Feb sun = 132.3
| Mar sun = 181.5
| Apr sun = 234.8
| May sun = 298.5
| Jun sun = 356.2
| Jul sun = 368.3
| Aug sun = 343.5
| Sep sun = 275.8
| Oct sun = 206.9
| Nov sun = 145.5
| Dec sun = 115.4
| source 1 = [[HNMS]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=Crete&poli=Heraklion
|title = Climatic Data for selected stations in Greece: Heraklion (Crete)
|access-date = 17 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Climate Atlas of Greece (for sunshine 1977-2002) |url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/?lang=EN |publisher=[[HNMS]] |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref>
| source 2 = meteo-climat (extremes)<ref name= meteo-climat>{{cite web
  |url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-530-Heraklion.php
  |title= STATION HERAKLION
  |publisher = meteo-climat
  |access-date = December 2, 2018}}</ref>
| date = December 2018
| source = 
}}

{{Weather box
|width = 70%
|location= [[Lentas]] 
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan high C=16.3
|Feb high C=16.7
|Mar high C=17.9
|Apr high C=21.3
|May high C=24.8
|Jun high C=29.0
|Jul high C=33.0
|Aug high C=32.8
|Sep high C=29.7
|Oct high C=25.7
|Nov high C=22.0
|Dec high C=18.2

|Jan mean C=13.8
|Feb mean C=14.1
|Mar mean C=15.2
|Apr mean C=18.2
|May mean C=21.6
|Jun mean C=25.6
|Jul mean C=29.4
|Aug mean C=29.4
|Sep mean C=26.6
|Oct mean C=22.9
|Nov mean C=19.4
|Dec mean C=15.8

|Jan low C=11.3
|Feb low C=11.6
|Mar low C=12.4
|Apr low C=15.1
|May low C=18.3
|Jun low C=22.2
|Jul low C=25.8
|Aug low C=26.1
|Sep low C=23.5
|Oct low C=20.0
|Nov low C=16.9
|Dec low C=13.3

|Jan record high C  = 21.9
|Feb record high C  = 25.2
|Mar record high C  = 24.2
|Apr record high C  = 29.7
|May record high C  = 36.7
|Jun record high C  = 39.6
|Jul record high C  = 43.3
|Aug record high C  = 42.7
|Sep record high C  = 36.7
|Oct record high C  = 33.2
|Nov record high C  = 27.2
|Dec record high C  = 23.3
|Jan record low C   = 2.3
|Feb record low C   = 2.3
|Mar record low C   = 3.9
|Apr record low C   = 7.8
|May record low C   = 12.8
|Jun record low C   = 16.3
|Jul record low C   = 20.8
|Aug record low C   = 22.3
|Sep record low C   = 15.2
|Oct record low C   = 14.3
|Nov record low C   = 10.2
|Dec record low C   = 5.3

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm=82.2
|Feb rain mm=61.7
|Mar rain mm=41.1
|Apr rain mm=13.6
|May rain mm=8.8
|Jun rain mm=5.4
|Jul rain mm=0.1
|Aug rain mm=1.1
|Sep rain mm=10.3
|Oct rain mm=30.2
|Nov rain mm=45.1
|Dec rain mm=61.0
|source 1 = [[National Observatory of Athens]] Monthly Bulletins (Dec 2011-Jan 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm|title=Monthly Bulletins|website=www.meteo.gr}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/lentas/ | title=Latest Conditions in Lentas, Crete }}</ref> and [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name="WMO">{{cite web | url=https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-lentas | title=World Meteorological Organization | access-date=14 July 2023}}</ref>
}}