Agia Eirini Gorge
Encyclopedia
Agia Eirini Gorge is located in the south-west of the island of Crete
, Greece
, in Lefka Ori
. The gorge starts near the village of Agia Eirini
and it ends near the village of Sougia
, on the south coast. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) long and 45–500 m (147.6–1,640.4 ft) deep, in a forested area with steep mountain cliffs, and is easy to walk. In 1866, 1,000 women and children escaped from the Turks through this gorge.
The walk from Agia Eirini to Sougia takes a total of 4 hours and can be done throughout the year, provided that it hasn't rained in the preceding days. The path in the gorge was improved considerably a few years ago and is, for the most, without difficulties and easy to follow with plenty of shade. There are several resting places where you can also get water.
Although the gorge of Agia Eirini is less spectacular than the gorge of Samariá
, it is far less crowded and very beautiful.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, in Lefka Ori
Lefka Ori
Lefka Ori or Madares is a mountain range located in Western Crete, in the Chania prefecture. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori occupy a good part of the centre of West Crete and are the main feature of the region...
. The gorge starts near the village of Agia Eirini
Agia Eirini, Chania
Agia Eirini is a small village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It has 84 residents and it is within the municipality of East Selino . Agia Eirini is the starting point of the Agia Eirini Gorge....
and it ends near the village of Sougia
Sougia
Sougia is a village in Chania Prefecture on the island of Crete, Greece. It is located on the south coast of the island, 70 km south of Chania. It has 109 residents and it's within the municipality of East Selino...
, on the south coast. It is 8 kilometres (5 mi) long and 45–500 m (147.6–1,640.4 ft) deep, in a forested area with steep mountain cliffs, and is easy to walk. In 1866, 1,000 women and children escaped from the Turks through this gorge.
The walk from Agia Eirini to Sougia takes a total of 4 hours and can be done throughout the year, provided that it hasn't rained in the preceding days. The path in the gorge was improved considerably a few years ago and is, for the most, without difficulties and easy to follow with plenty of shade. There are several resting places where you can also get water.
Although the gorge of Agia Eirini is less spectacular than the gorge of Samariá
Samaria Gorge
The Samariá Gorge is aNational Park of Greece on the island of Crete - a major tourist attraction of the island - and a World's Biosphere Reserve....
, it is far less crowded and very beautiful.