Nature

The area aroung the village Zourva by Chania hosts the most impressive wood of West Crete. The name of it is Paradisos (paradise) and stretches from Pises Gorge and Aliakes. The tree that dominates the area is the cypress tree, the most typical tree in the forests that cover the White Mountains. Through the forest of Paradise comes the old trail that climbs steeply from Zourva to springs of Tromarissa and continues up to the peaks of Madara.

The Gorge of Katsouna, near Vrysses, is believed to be the Xenia Street of Herodotus, according to who the guests of ancient Pergamos arrived through here in order to not have visual contact with the forts of the town. The length of the gorge is about one kilometer and starts from Vrysses to reach the entrance of the ancient city.

To the west of the prefecture of Chania and 20 kilometers away from the city of Chania we meet the estuary of Tavronitis. Tavronitis with Platanias are the two largest rivers in the western part of Chania. At its exit to the sea, the river forms a delta which is a very important wetland.

The Gorge of St. Savvas is the natural continuation of the canyon Trypiti, in the wild and imposing Asterousia mountains. In the arid landscape of Asteroussia Mts, the dense forest of the wild olive and carob trees looks like an oasis in the desert.

From the village Astiraki, Malevizi province, we can reach the fertile plateau of Vaklia. Before meeting the plateau Strouboulas we meet the position Galia. Galia is a completely barren plateau in contrast to the fertile reddish soils of Vaklia.

At the middle of the southeast shores of Lefki or Koufonissi island, at 75m altitude, we meet the ruined lighthouse of the island. There was found a temple, which unfortunately has suffered from predatory looting from the authorities (in 1920) in order to build the huge lighthouse, only 5m from the eastern short side of the temple where the entrance would have been, even though another stepped entrance was found on the north side.

At the west part of Chrissi islet you will meet the small lighthouse, powered by photovoltaic panel. The lighthouse is located close to the small chapel of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas) and the dried lake of the island.

In Niatos the beauty is indescribable, as the views to the peak Kastri (2215m) of the White Mountains causes awe. If you ever drive to Sfakia via Askifou, do not forget to visit the two plateaus, as they are totally unknown and are awesome.