Stroumboulas pond
At the east sides of the mount Strouboulas (seen like a volcano from Heraklion), you will meet the small plateau of Strouboulas. It is a typical limestone plateau with limited vegetation due to overgrazing by goats, but it hides wild beauty. At one side, you will meet the chapel of Saint George and at its lowest place, a small pond is formed in the winter. This small unknown wetland is highly dependant on the rainfalls. The water is reddish due to the grounds that remind of African landscapes.
Visiting the pond can be combined with a visit to the peak of Stroumboulas, where the chapel of Holy Cross is located, with amazing views from Heraklion to Psiloritis and Talean Range. Lastly, you can approach the adjacent Cave of Palmetis, where the chieftain Palmetis (a Cretan rebel during the Turkish Era) dropped the corpses of the Turks he killed.
