Samaria Gorge, Crete, Greece: description, sights, interesting facts and reviews

The Samaria Gorge (Chania, Crete, Greece) is the longest canyon in Europe. Every year, this sight is visited by several tens of thousands of tourists. All the guides to Crete are advised to go - alone or with an excursion - to this gorge. Why is it so interesting? You will learn about this from our article. In the meantime, going to the road. You have to go on an inclined terrain, along a precipitous path. Therefore, shoes should be taken suitable. The gorge abounds in sources of fresh water. Therefore, it is enough to take an empty jar. The length of the actual gorge is thirteen kilometers. Two more need to excavate from the point Xiloskalo on the top of the mountain, where the route begins. And then, leaving the gorge, it remains to go three kilometers to the nearest village of Agia Rumeli. So count your strength. There are more sparing routes. You will not see all the beauty, but look at the main sights. We describe them below.

Samaria Gorge in Greece: how to get there

This main natural landmark of Crete is located in the south-west of the island, near the city of Chania. The Samaria Gorge is in the White Mountains (the Greek name is pronounced "Lefka Ori"). Most of Crete's attractions are easiest to visit on your own or rented car. But the Samaria Gorge is not the case. You have to do the same way twice to get back to the car. From Chania, you can get an hour by bus from Ktel to Xylocalco on the plateau of Omalos. From this point begins a hiking trail. After eighteen kilometers of marvelous beauties, the road leads you to the village of Agia Rumeli. From her berth regularly sails the ferries of the company Anendyk to the town of Hora Sfakion, and from there buses go to Chania, the second largest city of Crete.

Alternative routes

For those who know they can not pass the entire Samaria Gorge, the guide to Crete offers a choice of two lightweight options. First: get to Xylocalkalo and go down the path-ladder, running through a beautiful pine forest. Walk as much as you want, but with the fact that you will repeat this entire path, but moving upwards. And the second option is for the most lazy ones. Arrive in the village of Agia Rumeli and start to climb to the lower exit from the gorge. Go have to three kilometers in there and the same number back. But in return you will see one of the most beautiful places in the Samarian Canyon - the Iron Gate. There are no doors there. But in this place the gorge is the narrowest. Its width is only three meters. If you are determined to go the whole route, then plan at least five hours of travel (with a halt and photographing the beauties). The whole way, but in the opposite direction, will take you at least seven hours. After all, you will need to rise from the level of the Libyan Sea to the top of the plateau of Omalos (1250 meters high).

History

The Samaria Gorge (Greece) was known to people as early as the time of the Crete-Mycenaean civilization. Proof of this are the ruins of ancient temples, which, presumably, were dedicated to Artemis and Apollo. On the bottom of the canyon flows the Tarreos River. Most likely, the gorge in ancient times was called the same. At least the city, which was formed in the 6th century BC behind the "Iron Gate", was given the name of Tarr. He was small, but independent. Tarra minted her coin, on the obverse of which was depicted the head of a local endemic, the mountain goat of the Cree Cree, and on the other side a bee. The city reached its heyday in the Roman period. About Тарре mention Секлиот, Диодор and Плиний. When the island was owned by the Venetians, on the site of the once busy city there was a village. In it stood a Romanesque church dedicated to the Theotokos. Its name (Holy Mary - Osia Maria) and gave the name of the village, and along with the canyon.

Interesting Facts

A small in size Samaria Gorge has nevertheless played a prominent role in the history of Greece. The Turkish yoke did not affect the inhabitants of Sfakia, who took shelter in these impregnable mountains. In the fierce battles, the Greeks did not let the Ottomans pass the Iron Gate. No less important canyon had in modern history. In the period 1935-1940. (Known in Greece as the dictatorship of Metaxas), oppositionists led by General Mandakas hid here. At the beginning of the Second World War, along the gorge, the path of the government of Greece that went to the Egyptian emigration lay. In 1942-43 there were detachments of fighters of the Resistance movement of the Nazi occupation. The guerrillas did not in the least prevent the German scientists from conducting a comprehensive study of the fauna and flora of the Samaria Gorge and withdrawing a documentary about it. In the Civil War, the canyon became a shelter for the leftist insurgents, who hid here until 1948. In 1962 it was decided to establish here the national park "White Mountains". The inhabitants of Samaria were moved to another place. Now the biosphere reserve occupies 4,850 hectares.

Samaria Gorge (Crete, Greece): description

The Greek government created the sanctuary very timely, because virgin oak forests and cypress groves were cut down everywhere. On the verge of extinction were some species of animals and plants that lived and grew only on the island of Crete. Now the populations are completely restored. Walking along the Samaria Gorge, one should not forget that this is the territory of a national park, and for collecting plants and berries, cutting trees for a fire and breaking tents, there is a fine. After all, the canyon ecosystem is very fragile. It should be borne in mind that a few thousand people pass through it every day. But tourists during such walks can see how the wild goats of the Cree Cree skip along the rocks, notice the wild cat and martens scurrying in the branches, trace the sight of the flight of the eagle. The path winds along the riverbed, often crossing it. On the shores are steep cliffs, overgrown with Cretan cypress, various kinds of pines, stone oak, plane trees, erondas, ebony.

When to visit the Samarian Canyon better

Summer in Crete does not have a long hike. In the shade, there may be more than thirty degrees. And it becomes very stuffy in the gorge. In addition, the river turns into a half-dried stream in the summer. Winter for Crete is the time of rains. The river floods the entire gorge, besides because of heavy rains, there are often collapses. Therefore, since November, the passage through the canyon is closed. The best time to visit a natural landmark is the first half of spring. The Samaria Gorge at this time is blooming. The river is very full and gives an amazing freshness. Do not forget that the reserve annually attracts about two hundred thousand tourists. In the peak season at the beginning of the trail can accumulate up to three thousand tourists. Not all of them reach the end of the route. You can avoid traffic jams if you come to the plateau of Omalos in the early morning. First, there is a long descent to the bottom of the gorge along the stairs. In unprepared tourists after this escapade the shins hurt the next morning. The way at every kilometer is marked with wooden posts. Throughout the route there are places for recreation. As a rule, tables are placed near the springs with fresh water. There are also toilets on the way. The order is observed by the staff of the national park on horseback on mules.

Historical places of interest

The Samarian Gorge in Greece is amazing with its pristine beauty. But not only wonderful views appear before the eyes of tourists. After all, this place was lived in the era of antiquity. In the Samaria Gorge (sometimes right next to the trail) are several ancient temples. The Church of St. Nicholas was built on the site of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo or Artemis. You can see and the ancient temple of Osia Maria, which gave the name of the village and the gorge. Among other historical and cultural attractions one can not help recalling the temple of St. Mary of Egypt XII-XIII centuries (with wonderful frescoes of 1740) and the church of Christ. The village of Samaria, deserted in 1962, is located approximately in the middle of the route. Some houses with traditional Cretan architecture are now restored. In Samaria there is a pharmacy, a medical center, and in case of traumas of tourists - several mules and a helipad.

Excursions and reviews about them

The Samaria Gorge (Crete) is included in the top ten "mast si" on the island. Even in the thirties of the twentieth century, the inhabitants of Samaria earned their living by taking tourists to their canyon. At the same time sightseeing bureaus profit from this sight. The cost of an organized visit to the Samaria Gorge varies from the departure point. If you go there from the eastern parts of Crete, it will cost forty euros, and if from the western extremity of the island, then thirty-five. The reviews warn: after paying for the tour, you will have to go through the whole route and at a fairly cheerful pace. The bus will bring you to the plateau, and then meet you at the exit from the canyon. And it's easy to fall behind the group. In this case, you will have to return home at your own expense.

Independent excursions

This type of travel is recommended by all tourists. You depend on the schedule of buses and ferry, but in general - yourself hozeva. How much does such a trip cost? Travel by bus from Chania and back - fourteen euros, ferry - nine and a half. For the entrance to the Samaria Gorge, you only have to pay 5 Є. Total travel will cost one person in twenty-eight euros with cents.

Reviews

Many irresponsible tourists refer to the excursion to the Samaria Gorge as a visit to the botanical garden. But the crossed terrain of the terrain very soon convinces them of the opposite. You must prepare for the campaign both in terms of equipment and in terms of health status. If you have aching legs, weak joints, heart problems and blood pressure, it's best to stay on the beach. In all other respects, tourists are satisfied with the trip. You will bring from the Samarii gorge many pleasant memories and gigabytes of wonderful photos.