Crete is in and of itself a very unique place in a variety of ways. A very special one of them is its biodiversity.
Studies show that there are over 1.800 species of plants in Crete, even much more than England.
Crete is an island-example for the preservation of our natural inheritance and the protection of the natural wealth and resources of the country.
This wealth, however, is not only related with the number, but also with the endemic plant life of the island, that count over 150 and constitute about 10% of the species of flora.
Despite human intervention, Cretan flora shapes and adapts to withstand any hyperactivity.
For example, there are endemic plants with thorns (to prevent grazing) or awful tastes (to avoid being consumed).
Furthermore, although the so-called woodlands of Crete are few, they are some of the rarest habitats or accommodations in Europe, like the palm trees of Theofrastos.
Of the forest species, those that are most common on the island are pine and cypress, conifers with large adaptability in extreme environments, but also maple and abelitsia, one of the rarest trees in the world that is planted almost exclusively on the White Mountains in small batches.
The most notable species of flora of the island are its aromatic plants and herbs that are used as ingredients in cooking, in the making of beverages and as healing implements.
For example, thyme, sage, ironwort (malotira), dittany, are only some of the plants that one can find, and especially smell, on Crete.
It is even honored with a celebration in the village of Fournes each May. It is one of the most picturesque orange-villages of the Municipality of Platanias in the Valley of Keritis. Flower water is made from the distillation of aromatic plants and flowers through steam. In the case of Cretan flower water, it is […]
Endemism in Crete reaches a percentage that varies from 10 to 50% of species, with the low percentage constantly increasing from year to year. What does endemism mean, however? It means that there are exclusively specific organisms in a certain area, which implies a greater responsibility for their maintenance. In absolute numbers, one can find […]
Six species of predator birds are found in Crete, according to the Hellenic Ornithological Society. Gypaetus (Gypaetus Barbatus) Common Name: Kokkalas It is the bird with the largest wingspan in Europe (270 cm) and body length ranging between 102 and 114 cm. Distinctive features of the adult include the off-white head and chest, square wings, […]
Between cheese and yogurt with a special taste, staka is a different dairy product in Cretan gastronomy. It contains quite a lot of calories and fat, but it makes up for it with a taste that transcends anything it accompanies. In its simplest versions, it accompanies fries or eggs, while it is used like fresh […]
ΚΗΠΟΣ & ΕΣΤΙΑΤΟΡΙΟ ΚΛΕΙΣΤΑ
Σας ευχαριστούμε πολύ.
Ανανεώνουμε το ραντεβού μας ξανά
στις αρχές Μαρτίου 2024.
GARDEN & RESTAURANT CLOSED
Thank you very much.
We will be ready to welcome you again
by early March of 2024.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.