Aposelemis Gorge
The canyon Aposelemis exits at the settlement Agrianá (or Adrianna as its inhabitants call it). It is the longest and most important geological canyon in the northern part of the prefecture of Heraklion.
Heraklion Gorges
The gorges of the regional unit of Heraklion are mainly formed in the mountain ranges of Psiloritis and the Asterousia Mountains, as well as on the western slopes of the Dikti range. The landscape of Asterousia is dry and rocky, with gorges ending at secluded shores of the South Cretan Sea. The best-known hiking routes include Agiofarago Gorge, Martsalo Gorge and Trafoulas Gorge, while the same mountain range also contains many technical canyons with vertical descents and waterfalls.
On Psiloritis, the Rouvas Gorge, also known as Gafaris, crosses the forest of Rouvas. The same mountainous zone includes the Kroussonas Gorge, the Vorizia Gorge and the gorges of Asites. These routes combine rugged mountain terrain with forests, springs and old passages that once connected the northern settlements with the interior of Psiloritis.
Near the city of Heraklion lies the interconnected system of the Astrakiano, Kounaviano and Knossano gorges, while farther west are the gorges of Almiros and Venerato. On the western slopes of Dikti are the Roza Gorge and the Ambelos Gorge, while near Hersonissos lies the Aposelemis Gorge.
Rouvas Wood and Gorge
The gorge of Agios Nikolaos, Gafaris or Rouvas is bounded by the peaks of Ambelakia from east and Samari from west. This is the most important gorge of Psiloritis and central Crete and took its name from the homonymous Byzantine church in the south entrance. This is an ecosystem with rich flora and fauna, smaller canyons and interesting geological formations and cliffs of rare beauty.
Agiofarago Gorge
Agiofarago Gorge (meaning Gorge of Saints) is located in south of Odigitria Monastery and has been shaped near the beds of two streams. The first stream starts north - northeast of Gyalomonochoro and the other starts northeast of the Odigitria. The two streams meet, near St Kiriaki and after following a relatively smooth path, west and south of Church St. Kiriaki, it arrives in Porofarango, where the main gorge of Agiofaraggouo starts and ends at the Libyan Sea, at a small but amazing beach.
Roza Gorge
The gorge of Roza is an offshoot of the gorge of Ambelos. It starts from a point near the rural road that crosses the gorge of Ambelos and has east-southeast direction, leading to Kera.
Arvi Gorge
There are several places in Crete that are beautiful, but only a few of them can be described as winders of nature. A place that is a real wonder of nature is the gorge of Arvi that tears Arvion Mount in two, over which the shrine of Zeus Arveios was sited.
Kounaviano Gorge
Kounaviano canyon is the richest (in vegetation) gorge in the prefecture of Heraklion, a real oasis in the center of the province Pediada. The name comes from the village Kounavi. It is a tributary of the river Karteros and runs parallel to Astrakiano gorge, with which in merges at position Kaki Rachi by Skalani and then form the Gorge of Karteros.
Almiros Gorge
The gorge Almyros is located in Linoperamata, close to Heraklion, between Keri and Kastrokefala. Almiros Gorge is the nearest gorge to Heraklion, a natural oasis close to the bustling city, formed between the hills of Keri and Kastrokefala.
Tripiti Gorge
The gorge of Trypiti is formed at the range Asterousia, to the south of the village Vassiliki. The length of the canyon reaches 4 km and a beautiful pebble beach is formed at its exit. The beach is reached though a dirt road that runs high along the eastern side of the canyon for several kilometers before reaching its riverbed, just before the exit to the sea.
