Nature

Vothonas or Lakoudia is a very small plateau located 40km south of Chania city, near to the village Vafes. It can be accessed from Vafes via by a passable dirt road. The landscape of the surrounding mountains is spectacular, with majestic views to the White Mountains and the shores of Georgioupolis.

The river Axedianos carries water from the area east of Agia Varvara and Agios Thomas and in some places forms some really beautiful waterfalls. In particular, at the site of the picturesque chapel of Panagia Kardiotissa near Agios Thomas, numerous waterfalls are formed, creating a unique setting till the spring.

Below this plane tree, that has been declared as nature monument, the 99 Holy Fathers settled after arriving to Crete from Egypt, Cyprus and Turkey. This is located inside the monastery if the 99 Holy Fathers. They say that its branches form 99 crosses.

The Gorge Porofarago or Sfakoryako is a small canyon, almost 2 km long, starting from village Kato Vatheia and ending near the settlement of Vrachokipos. It is crossed by the river Krommidas carrying water on the beach Kokini Hani.

The dam of Partira is situated 32km south of the city of Heraklion and west of the village Partira at an altitude of 300m. Its construction was completed in 2000 and today the capacity reaches 380000 sq.m. of water. The dam gathers the water from Patsideros river, a tributary of Anapodaris river.

The Trapeza Cave has been used as a place of worshiping, something that is certified by the innumerous conches on its ground but also by its flat which is in front of the entrance which both are dated from the middle-Minoan era until the after-Minoan. The most important findings of the cave are two idols of men in worshiping position.

The Cretan Water Frog (scient. Pelophylax cretensis or Rana cretensis) is one of the three endemic species of amphibians of Greece, which is found only on the island of Crete. Unfortunately, in recent years its population has declined dramatically due to several factors.

The monastery of Gorgolaini hosts two ancient trees that have been declared a nature monuments by the Greek state: a cypress and a plane tree. Both are located at the end of the garden, one next to the other.