SOUDA TRAVEL GUIDE

CHANIA > OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW

The Prefecture of Chania is located on the western end of the island of Crete bordering the Rethymnon Prefecture to the east and is surrounded by sea in the other three directions. To the north is the Cretan Sea and to the south the Libyan Sea. The Prefecture covers an area of 2,376 km², of which the greater part is mountainous, and has approximately 150,000 inhabitants.

The spectacular natural beauty of the area includes the Lefka Ori mountain range that is home to the Samaria Gorge National Park containing the Samaria Gorge, which is 18 km long and the longest in Europe. The Gorge is the natural home for the rare Kri Kri, a type of chamois goat only found on Crete.

In spite of the major mountain range there are numerous beaches of crystal clear blue sea ranging from small coves to long stretches of beach, some with pebbles and many with sand. On the north coast the beaches gently deepen, but on the south coast they deepen quite close to the shore.

The Prefecture is surrounded by many small islands all uninhabited with the exception of Gavdos located 22 nautical miles south of Sfakia. This island is the southernmost point of continental Europe.