Its maximum length is 260 kms. from
the Gramvousa point in the northwest
up to the Sideros point in the southeast,
while its width varies from 60 kms.
(from Stavros point to Lithino Cape) to
12 kms. at the lerapetra straits (gulf of
Mirabello to lerapetra bay). Its area is
8,261 sq. kms. and, together with the is-
lets of Gavdos and Dia, 8,303 sq. kms.

The length of its coastline is 1,046 kms.
Crete is a mountainous island, with
three large ranges: the White Moun-
tains or Madares in the western part of
the island (highest peak: Pachnes -
2.453 m.), Mt. Ida or Psiloritis in the
central part of the island (highest peak:
Timios Stavros, 2.456 m.) and Dicte, or
Lasithi mountains, which dominates
the eastern part of Crete (anonymous
peak of 2,148m.).

Apart from these large ranges, there
are also smaller ones and mountains
not quite as high: Asterousia or Kofina,
connecting Ida with Dicte, Virgiomeno,
Toumba, Moutsounas, Selena, all ex-
tensions of Dicte, the mountains of
Thrypte rising east of the province Jof
lerapetra, and others.

Crete also nas a numoer of plateaus
among the mountain peaks. The land,
here, is usually fertile and the rainwa-
ter which collects in these natural ba-
sins during the winter makes these
plateaus ideal for agriculture.

The richest plateau is that of Lasithi,
which lies between the peaks of Dicte,
at a height of approximately 900 m. The
peaks of the White Mountains enclose,
at a height of 700 m., the Omalos
plateau, which figures in many a Cre-
tan folk song, while between the peaks
of the Psiloritis lies the Nida plateau, at
a height of approximately 1,400 m.

The island's plains are not very wide,
but the Cretans also use the gentle
slopes of hills and mountains, as well as
certain coastal areas, in the shelter of
coves, to grow certain types of agricul-
tural products.

The rivers of Crete are few and unim-
portant. As the island is so narrow, the
torrents that are formed on the moun-
tain-sides do not have far to go before
they empty into the sea, and they do
not, therefore, have time to develop into
rivers.
The limestone earth also contributes to
the absorption of much of the surface
water and to the formation of karstic
scenery.

The main rivers are the Geropotamos
river and the Anapodiaris, in the Mes-
sara plain, the Tyflos and Kolenis riv-
ers in the Chanea plain, and the Kour-
taliotis and Patelis in Siteia.

Apart from some water holes and' a
small lake (Kourna) in the Apokoronou
province, Crete has no lakes or important springs in its mountains.

A particular characteristic of Crete is
the existence of many caves, whichwere formed as a result of the karstic effects, through the ages, of water on the
limestone rocks.

Most of these have been known since prehistoric times and were used as places of shelter and of worship, as is proved by the various finds brought to light. The most important of these caves are: the Dictaean Cave (on Mount Dicte near Psychro village), the Idaean Cave (on Mount Ida near the village ofAnogheia), the Melidoni Cave in the province of
Apokoronou (near the village of the
same name), the Cave of Omalos in
Chania province (known as the abysscave ofTzannes) and the Sendoni Cave in Rethymnon province.

Another particularly interesting
phenomenon which is characteristic of
the island is the formation of gorges
which, starting from the mountains,

reach all the way to the sea and cut
deeply into the land of Crete. The best-
known and the largest is the Samaria
Gorge, or Farangas, in the Chanea pre-
fecture, which separates the main bulk
of the White Mountains from Volakia.
Another gorge, also in the Chanea pre-
fecture, is the Nimbros or Imbros
Gorge, which separates the White
Mountains from the Angathes peak,
the gorge called Lagos toil Katre and
the Kourtaliotiko gorge, in the Re-
thymnon prefecture, between the
Kouroupas and the Xero mountains.

The coastline of Crete is very jagged,
forming a multitude of smaller or larger
bays, creeks, capes, peninsulas. The
northern coasts are more abrupt, with
varying expanses of sand between the
rocks. Those on the southern side are
quieter and form sandy bays.

Though Crete is a mountainous island
with few low-lying areas, its agricul-
tural production is rich, as a result of
the fertility of its soil and its mild cli-
mate. The main products are: olives,
grapes (table varieties, wine grapes,
sultanas), citrus fruit, carobs, aromatic
and medicinal herbs, garden produce,
bananas, avocados, kiwi fruit etc.

Crete was well-known since antiquity
for its cypress forests (Herodotus,
1.100). Indeed, it has been recorded that
the Pharaohs of Egypt obtained cypress
wood from Crete for the construction of
their ships.