Nature

The River Anapodaris is located in south-central Prefecture of Heraklion and exits near the village of Tsoutsouras and Keratokambos. More specifically, it starts gathers water from east-central Heraklion and southern Dikti, with may smaller rivers (eg Baritis) flowing into it. Close to Demati village a nice arched bridge crosses the river.

Close to village St. George at province Sitia (also known as Tourtouli ) there are the two caves Small and Large Katofygi (with the maximum length of internal routes being 100m).

Aposelemis River is one of the longest rivers in Crete, which receives the groundwater of the plateau of Lassithi from the springs of Fleges, near Kastamonitsa village. Then, it runs near the village Avdou, where it changes route and joins the river of Ambelos Gorge, continues to Potamies, where a large dam has been constructed, and it reaches the position Xerokamares, where it joins the small river of Karouzana. Then, it passes through the gorge of Aposelemis and heads towards the northern shores of Heraklion, where it exits into a small wetland near Gouves.

The Cretan white-toothed shrew (scient. Crocidura zimmermanni) is the only endemic mammal in Greece, found only in Crete, but it is displaced by the introduced lesser white-teethed shrew (scient. Crocidura suaveolens). Moreover, the smallest mammal of the world, the Etruscan shrew, is the third species of shrew met in Crete.

Thripti Plateau is located next to the village of Kavousi, in Ierapetra area, at an altitude of 850m. It's really one of the most beautiful places worth visiting in Crete, which is totally unknown to most Cretans. Its natural beauty is very special and so are the Thripti mountain hiking trails, which are part of the European path E4, which starts from the Iberian Peninsula, passing the Alps down to Crete, where it stops in the mountains of Sitia.

If you head 1km to the east of Myrtos you will meet the long beach of Sarikambos, that is more secluded, but the seabed becomes coarser. 2 more km on the east, you'll find a small bay next to the greenhouses of Nea Myrtos settlement. This is avoided for swimming due to the greenhouses that might pollute the water.

2km north of Agios Nikolaos you will meet the historic Hotel Mirabello. In front of the hotel there are the two bays of Mirabello with two beautiful sandy beaches. The first beach is protected by docks and a small marina. Both of them are very well-organized, with umbrellas, sunbeds, showers and bar. They are separated by a short artificial peninsula with tamarisk trees.

The first beaches of Elounda that you meet after Lenika, as you come from Agios Nikolaos, are the beaches in front of the famous hotels of Elounda at position Pigaidakia. Every hotel that respects itself here has its own harbor, where yachts can stop. Next to the piers there are small sandy beaches which offer all kinds of opulence and luxury services.