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Crete is the largest of the Greek islands, and
the most southerly. It is around 260km long and
56km wide at its widest point, 12km wide at its
narrowest. It is the 5th largest island in the
Mediterranean. It sits at the crossroads to three
continents; Europe, Africa, & Asia.
It boasts the southernmost point of Europe. It
averages around 300 days of sunshine per year,
which together with its enviable infrastructure,
beautiful scenery, rugged mountains &
picturesque beaches make it an ideal location to
build a home.
The island has 2 international airports, 4 ports,
& 11 hospitals. The "National Highway" runs the
entire length of the island, making access to the
main towns easy. There are around 1046km of
coastline, with golden sandy beaches on the north
coast, most of which are warm & shallow, making
them ideal for families.
The south coast is more dramatic, with sheer cliffs
& beaches with black volcanic sand. It is on
the south coast that the Samaria gorge, the longest
gorge in Europe, ends. The island has a rich &
varied history, going back 9000 years. During the
Minoan period, around 3000-1400bc, Crete was at the
height of its power. After their fall, thought to
be due to the massive volcanic eruption on
Santorini & the following tsunami, the island
underwent Dorian, Roman, Byzantine, Venetian, &
Turkish rule.
In 1897, Greek forces arrived & helped to
liberate the island from the Turks. Crete unified
with Greece in 1913. Crete is an island full of
lovely small villages as well as a few major towns.
Below is a Slide Show of Crete, its landscape and
its people.
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