Geographical
situation: |
5th largest
island in the Mediterranean sea, most southern point of Europe. |
Political
situation: |
The largest
of the Greek Aegean islands, divided into 4 prefectures: Hania, Rethymnon,
Heraklion and Lassithi (with Agios Nikolaos as capital). |
| Economy: |
Agriculture:
Olives and olive oil, wine and raisins, fruits and vegetables, animal breeding,
especially sheep and goats.
Tourism:
Individual and mass tourism are fully developed. Everything
from 5 star luxury hotels to rental rooms and camping sites is available.
Season from
March to November.
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Crete
"We the Cretans love our
island passionately and follow the spirit, which arose from the epoch of
the lovers in the Minoan times and developed over the centuries under the
eternal influence of other peoples, like Dorians, Egyptians, Byzantinians,
Arabs, Venetians, Turks... This spirit goes beyond the boundaries of the
term "culture". You can find it in the sound of our folk song "Rizitiko",
in the motive of an antique pottery, in the movements of a shepherd tending
his herd in the mountains, in the smell of the herb "Diktamos", in the
eyes of a priest, who holds a service alone in his chapel with a gun in
his belt..."
(Translation.
after Nikos Karellis in "Kreta" in 1994) |
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| Traffic and Transport: |
The island
is reachable
by ferry-boat and plane. In summer and winter daily several boat and plane
connections from and to different destinations on Crete.
Airports
at Heraklion and Hania, ferries to Heraklion, Hania, Rethymnon and Agios
Nikolaos,
Roads:
National highway along the northern coast of Crete from Hania to Heraklion.
From Heraklion
to Agios Nikolaos the national road leads through several villages.
From the
northern coast to the southern parts of the island there are several roads.
No continuous road along all the south coast, but from Agia Galini to Pirgos.
Travel
on the island
The backbone of all passenger transportation on Crete are the public
bus lines of KTEL. There are coach services, taxi-cabs and cars.
Rental cars and motorcycles everywhere available.
Transport
of goods on the island by truck. |
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