Nature

The small piney gorge of Keratida starts above Koustogerako and after 2 hours of trekking meets the seaside E4 trail that connects Sougia to Agia Roumeli. Initially the course is on the side of the gorge. The downhill is steep and we have to be careful, as the gorge is inhospitable.

The olive tree of Mathena has been declared as monumental by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities as a natural monument due to shape and relief trunk, forming a cave with its adjacent rock.

The easternmost beach you come across a dirt road starting from Agios Antonios and heading 1km to the east, to Cape Kenti and close to the wind turbines of Aforesmenos Cape, is called Avlaki. Adjacent to Avlaki, there is the pebbled beach of Xepapadia, which is the only beach around the Mirabello that has purely east orientation and is not usually wavy. Next to Xepapadia there is the scenic chapel of St. Dionysius.

The Cave Ano Peristeras is one of the many underground rivers of the area of Karidi, Sitia province. It is located at an altitude of 650 meters, the length of routes exceed 5500m and its depth exceeds 220m.

The Goniano gorge is the unique passage which connects Sklavokampos and Gonies with Tylisos. Its length is 3 km. and is relatively wide and straight. Reaching though the exit (in the point where a monument of those killed during the 2nd World War is in the road to Gonies) the gorge turns abruptly towards south and before it comes out of the limestone mass follows an irregular and abrupt course.

The olive tree has been declared by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities as a natural monument due to its size, shape and relief trunk. The name of the site is Gre Ele which means Old Olive and refers to this tree. Its variety is throumboelia and is grafted on a rootstock of a wild olive tree. It is estimated to have been planted in 650-500BC and is located very close to the archaeological site of Eleftherna.

The pine grove of Pefkias is the densest wood in Psiloritis Mount (denser than the forest of Rouvas) and apart from the great pines that dominate the area, you will also meet cypress and oak trees. In Pefkias, you will meet many bee hives as it is one of the most important areas in the prefecture of Heraklion for apiaries after the forests of the province of Viannos.

The olive tree of Saint George is one of the many ancient olive trees in the areas Anisaraki and Vardaliana near Kandanos village. It has been declared as a memorial by the Association of Cretan Olive Municipalities due to its flattened shape and textured trunk.