Έκθεση φωτογραφίας στο χώρο του Ιστιοπλοϊκού Ομίλου Χανίων – Νεώριο Μόρο, οργανώνει ο Φορέας Διαχείρισης του Εθνικού Δρυμού Σαμαριάς, στο πλαίσιο των επετειακών εκδηλώσεων για τη συμπλήρωση 50 ετών από την ίδρυση του ΕΔΣ, (δείτε παρακάτω ένα μικρό αφιέρωμα) από τις 31 Αυγούστου έως τις 06 Σεπτεμβρίου 2012, σε συνεργασία με φωτογραφικές ομάδες της πόλης των Χανίων.

Παράλληλα με την έκθεση φωτογραφίας θα γίνονται δεκτά και έργα (άλλες εικαστικές δημιουργίες, ποιήματα) από πολίτες που θέλουν να εκφράσουν την αγάπη τους για τα Λευκά Όρη.

Οι φωτογραφίες θα κατατίθενται σε ηλεκτρονική ή έντυπη μορφή στα γραφεία του Φορέα Διαχείρισης (Νικ. Πλαστήρα 10, 73134, Χανιά Κρήτης) ή μπορούν να αποστέλλονται στο e-mail του Φορέα Διαχείρισης ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) μέχρι και την Παρασκευή 17 Αυγούστου.Οι φωτογραφίες πρέπει να έχουν ελάχιστη διάσταση εκτύπωσης 30Χ45 cm, ενώ το υλικό θα συνοδεύεται από το ονοματεπώνυμο του φωτογράφου, πλήρη διεύθυνση, τηλέφωνο και ηλεκτρονικό ταχυδρομείο, τίτλο για κάθε φωτογραφία και τόπο λήψης.

Σκοπός της έκθεσης φωτογραφίας και ελεύθερης έκφρασης είναι να αναδειχθεί η μοναδικότητα του τοπίου και των στοιχείων των Λευκών Ορέων, καθώς και η στενή αλληλεπίδραση του ανθρώπου με το ορεινό περιβάλλον του Δρυμού.

Στον ιστότοπο www.samaria.gr αλλά και στα γραφεία του Φορέα Διαχείρισης θα αναρτώνται σταδιακά λεπτομέρειες και νέες ενημερώσεις σχετικά με την έκθεση.

Λίγα λόγια για το Φαράγγι

Το φαράγγι της Σαμαριάς ή Φάραγγας είναι ένα από τα επιβλητικότερα και ξεχωριστά φαράγγια που μπορεί να επισκεφθεί κάποιος όχι μόνο στον Ελλαδικό χώρο αλλά σε ολόκληρη της Ευρώπη. Δεν είναι τυχαίο ότι το διέρχονται χιλιάδες επισκέπτες κάθε χρόνο.

Το μοναδικό τοπίο του, είναι ένα σύνολο, που περιλαμβάνει στοιχεία φυσικά και πολιτιστικά. Στη Σαμαριά οι αλληλεπιδράσεις ανάμεσα στην φύση και τον άνθρωπο λαμβάνουν χώρα για εκατομμύρια χρόνια. Τα φυτά που κρέμονται στο κενό, το ποτάμι που εμφανίζεται και εξαφανίζεται, το αγρίμι, τα δάση, ο σχηματισμός του φαραγγιού, οι κάθετοι βράχοι και τα σπήλαια αποτέλεσαν το φυσικό υπόβαθρο για να ζήσει και να αναπτυχθεί ο κάτοικος της περιοχής των Λευκών Ορέων. Ο άνθρωπος της περιοχής, με τη ζωή του, συμπληρώνει το φυσικό τοπίο. Καλλιεργεί σε βαθμίδες, βόσκει και κυνηγά, φτιάχνει ξωκλήσια και αρχαία ιερά και τραγουδά "ριζίτικα", τα ιδιαίτερα τραγούδια της ρίζας των Λευκών Ορέων που υμνούν την ελευθερία και τη λεβεντιά. Ο διαχωρισμός των δύο, "φυσικό" και "πολιτιστικό" τοπίο είναι σχεδόν αδύνατος.
Μαζί με με τις γύρω πλαγιές και άλλα μικρότερα φαράγγια, το φαράγγι της Σαμαριάς, ένας μοναδικός σχηματισμός στη Μεσόγειο, έχει ανακηρυχθεί ως Εθνικός Δρυμός Λευκών Ορέων το 1962 και βραβεύθηκε:

Το 1971 με το Εθνικό δίπλωμα προστασία της φύσης.
Το 1973 ανακηρύχθηκε ως τόπος ιδιαιτέρου φυσικού κάλους.
Το 1979 του απονεμήθηκε από το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης το Ευρωπαϊκό Δίπλωμα, Α' κατηγορίας, προστασίας του φυσικού περιβάλλοντος, που μέχρι τώρα ανανεώνεται κάθε πέντε χρόνια.

Στην αρχή κάλυπτε έκταση 48.500 στρεμμάτων ενώ τα τελευταία χρόνια γίνονται προσπάθειες για την επέκταση του Δρυμού σε 250.000 στρέμματα, με σκοπό να συμπεριληφθεί το πιο σημαντικό τμήμα των Λευκών Ορέων.

Το ένα του άκρο βρίσκεται στη νότια πλευρά του οροπεδίου του Ομαλού στη θέση ξυλόσκαλο και σε υψόμετρο 1200 μ. Το άλλο σε απόσταση 16 περίπου χλμ. είναι προς τις νότιες ακτές της Κρήτης στο Λυβικό πέλαγος.

Με μεγάλη ποικιλία στη μορφολογία του περιλαμβάνει κορυφές με υψόμετρο πάνω από 2.000 μ. (κορυφή Βολακιάς 2.116 μ.) και φτάνει μέχρι την θάλασσα. Οι βαθιές και επιβλητικές χαράδρες, τα γραφικά ρέματα, οι πηγές με το πεντακάθαρο νερό και τα πυκνά δάση από κυπαρίσσι, τραχεία πεύκη και πουρνάρι δημιουργούν την μοναδική σύνθεση του υπέροχου και μοναδικού τοπίου.

Χλωρίδα και πανίδα

Το όλο σκηνικό συμπληρώνουν η ιδιαίτερα πλούσια ποικιλία χλωρίδας και πανίδας.

Εθνικός Δρυμός ΣαμαριάςΣημαντικότερο είδος της πανίδας του αποτελεί το παγκοσμίως γνωστό Κρητικό Αγρίμι (Κρι - κρι), που ζει ελεύθερο στο φαράγγι και τα τρία παράλληλα της Σαμαριάς.

Αλλα είδη που συναντώνται στο φαράγγι είναι το κρητικό υποείδος ασβού ή άρκαλος, το κρητικό κουνάβι ή ζουρίδα, η κρητική νυφίτσα ή καλογιαννού κ.α. Το μικρόσωμο είδος ποντικιού, ο Κρητικός αγκαθοπόντικας, δεν έχει εντοπισθεί σε κανένα άλλο μέρος της Ελλάδας.

Εθνικός Δρυμός Σαμαριάς. Οριζοντιόκλαδο ΚυπαρίσσιΑκόμη το φαράγγι καθώς και οι γύρω δασωμένες εκτάσεις, αποτελούν το καταφύγιο πολλών ειδών της πτηνοπανίδας, μεταξύ των οποίων πιο γνωστά είναι: , το όρνιο, ο γυπαετός, ο σπιζαετός, ο χρυσαετός, καθώς και τα δύο Ευρωπαϊκά είδη κόρακα - κοκκινοκαλιακούδα και η κιτρινοκαλιακούδα - κλπ. Από τα 450 είδη της Κρητικής χλωρίδας, εκ των οποίων τα 70 είναι ενδημικά, ξεχωρίζουν τα αιωνόβια τεράστια Κυπαρίσσια.

Η διαδρομή

Η διαδρομή κατά μήκος του φαραγγιού είναι περίπου 12 χλμ και στη συνέχεια η απόσταση έως την Αγία Ρουμέλη άλλα 3 χλμ. περίπου.

Η διάσχισή του με γρήγορο βάδισμα απαιτεί πέντε σχεδόν ώρες αλλά αν θέλετε να απολαύσετε το τοπίο και γενικότερα την διαδρομή θα χρειασθείτε 6-8 ώρες.

Καλύτερη περίοδος για να το επισκεφθείτε είναι από την 1η Μαϊου μέχρι τέλος Οκτωβρίου.

Για την προστασία του και για πληροφορίες στους επισκέπτες υπάρχουν φυλάκια της δασικής υπηρεσίας στην είσοδο του φαραγγιού, στον οικισμό της Σαμαριάς και στην έξοδο.

Τα πολλά στενά σημεία του με τους βράχους να κρέμονται πάνω από τα κεφάλια των επισκεπτών έχουν ονομαστεί "πόρτες" με στενότερο αυτό της "Σιδερόπορτας" που έχει μόνο 3 μ. πλάτος και το κατακόρυφο ύψος των πλευρών να κυμαίνεται από 300 έως 700 μ.

Κατά την διάρκεια της διαδρομής υπάρχουν πολλά γραφικά ξύλινα γεφυράκια πάνω από την ροή του ποταμιού.

Στην περιοχή του φαραγγιού τα αρχαία χρόνια υπήρχαν ονομαστά Ιερά και Μαντεία, στη τοποθεσία δε της Αγίας Ρουμέλης η αρχαία πόλη Τάρα στην οποία σώζεται μέχρι σήμερα τμήμα του ναού του Απόλλωνα. Ακόμη οι προϊστορικοί οικισμοί, η πόλη Καινώ, οι παλαιοχριστιανικοί τάφοι, οι βυζαντινοί ναϊσκοι, το παλαιό χωριό της Σαμαριάς - στο κέντρο του φαραγγιού - και τα βενετσιάνικα κάστρα, είναι μερικά από τα αποτυπώματα του ανθρώπου που έζησε στην περιοχή.
Πρόσβαση - Αναχώρηση

Για να ξεκινήσετε την "περιπέτεια" της διάσχισης του φαραγγιού θα χρειαστεί να μεταβείτε στο περίφημο οροπέδιο του Ομαλού σε απόσταση 43 χλμ. από τα Χανιά με υπεραστικό λεωφορείο ή φυσικά με δικό σας μέσον. Αν όμως χρησιμοποιήσετε δικό σας μέσον θα πρέπει όμως να υπολογίζεται ότι δεν θα επιστρέψετε ξανά στη ίδιο σημείο αφού η έξοδός του είναι κοντά στο χωριό της Αγίας Ρουμέλης.

Από την Αγία Ρουμέλη θα συνεχίσετε με πλοιάριο έως τα Σφακιά με διάρκεια διαδρομής μιας ώρας περίπου και στη συνέχεια με το ΚΤΕΛ για Χανιά ή προς Σούγια και Παλαιόχωρα επίσης με πλοιάριο.

Στον Ομαλό θα βρείτε ταβέρνες, κέντρο πληροφόρησης και είδος μικρού μουσείου, για την Σαμαριά και τα Λευκά Όρη.

Στην πανέμορφη Αγία Ρουμέλη μπορείτε να απολαύσετε το θαλάσσιο μπάνιο σας στα υπέροχα νερά του Λιβυκού πελάγους, να γευματίσετε σε μια από τις πολλές παραδοσιακές ταβέρνες η να παραμείνετε σε κάποιο από τα καταλύματα της περιοχής. Το ίδιο μπορείτε να κάνετε και στην θαυμάσια Χώρα των Σφακίων.

While staying in Chania, Crete, we walked through Samaria Gorge. We woke up around 5:00am and caught a bus to the head of the gorge, up in the mountain of central western Crete. We arrived around 730am and it was a beautiful clear cool morning. The gorge is supposedly the longest in Europe and gets to be up to 100 metres deep and only about 5 metres wide at its narrowest, near the southern sea. The walk started very high in the mountains and we spent the first couple of hours falling down jumbled rocky steps and using muscles that we didn’t really have. The walk is 16kms and leads to the Agios rumelos which is a small village on the Ocean. We bolted past all the oldies with there alpine climbing sticks and the stumbling idiots in thongs and high heals. There were old people who were scared of the loose rocks and the steps and that was about 500 metres into the 16km walk.

Slowly we made our way to the front of the pack and set a cracking pace, not that it was a race but we didn’t want to be stuck behind numpties and we also wanted a chance to see some Kri Kri, which are Crete’s native wild endangered goats. They are small shy animals and we managed to see quite a few in the end because we were the first to walk the gorge for the day before they got scared off by the bellowing teenagers and Americans. Eventually we made the mistake of stopping for some water and a photo and some mad frenchies overtook us. The scenery throughout the gorge was amazing because everything was so green and cool. Greece is very dry and brown, much like Australia and all the colours are very muted. In the gorge however there were bright greens against brilliant blue skys, crystal clear streams, again rare in greece to see any streams, and beautiful mountain vistas. The whole walk was in the shade too which is great in Greece when you are walking 16kms. At the end of the day my feet were a bit sore and corinnes ’Hams (thighs) were a bit tired too. We suddenly emerged from the gorge onto a view of the southern Aegean, blue and sparkling and it was about 35 degrees out of the shade. We went swimming and tried to get around the beach of sizzling black stones. Some Frenchies arrived at the beach and as we had seen previously did the full body nudey strip and changed into there togs, confident but unusual. We had lunch at a Taverna owned by an arrogant fat man that was so annoying to watch i just wanted to push his face into the burning hot pebbles of the beach. He was rude to the tourists, soppy to the greeks, very rude to all his wait staff and swanned around like he was some sort of local hero. I was served a pitta Gyro (kebab) the size of Tasmania and we had cold beers but unfortunately never got our water or a table cloth like the locals did. At the end of the day you have to catch a ferry to another town East along the coast and then you catch a bus from that town back to Chania. As usual the bus proved to be a crazy affair. Hundreds of people who caught either public buses or tours all lined up and then we were herded onto the right buses. All the tours went first, there was an especially interesting polish tour that i and all my male friends would have liked to be on but i had to catch a public bus. Our buses came last and then we were made to go on certain buses. some people were thrown off buses and put on others for no particularly reason and they also reveled in trying to separate couples on different buses. Some Asian people on our bus were screamed at in greek and thrown off, they were eating. No one had said no food and there were no signs but damn the Greks got angry about it.

On our way home on the Bus we had another Greek bus adventure. Our crazy, stupid idiot bus driver encountered a motorcycle drive going the wrong way along a road. He threw the bus into reverse, thus going the wrong way too and screamed at the moto man and then made a citizens arrest and we all waited while the crazy greek man, who was probably more criminal than the biker, talked to the police about what the biker had done. Meanwhile on the bus there was mutiny building, a lot of people wanted to get home after the big walk and some people had to get to the airport etc. The Asian man who had nearly been thrown off was going to hijack the bus and drive us home. When the police did arrive a big German tourist went out and abused the bus driver massively and then screamed at the police too to let us go home. They of course did not really understand so a big angry greek man went and abused the bus driver too. The police looked puzzled and let us go but then the bus driver refused to drive his mutinous crew and also to take the abusive greek passenger. In the end they had a few more screams and we got on our way, about 45minutes later. The angry greek man had another scream at the bus driver on the way home and made him drop him off at his house rather than at the bus stop!

A beautiful and unknown flower that we saw all over the place. It comes from a bulb and looks out of place amongst the dryness

A Kri Kri in the ruins of the olive groves of Samaria, now uninhabited when the place became a national park.

A sign that does not impart confidence, for how far to you have to walk quickly?

The gorge at its thinnest point near the southern ocean

Corinne on one of the concrete knobs at agia roumeli. the actual beach was further in the background.

Source : Ben and Corinne's Big Adventure

In Crete there are numerous gorges.The "Farangas" But, as the locals call the gorge of Samaria, and is a unique and crossing is a unique and exciting experience.The hiker is rewarded for the hard hiking in rough, steep ground with a primitive impressive sight, a beautiful landscape with virtually no human intervention and fills a unique sense of awe and admiration.

The "Farangas" as the locals call the Samaria Gorge is the largest and most impressive gorges in Crete.

About four kilometers from the start of the storied plateau Omalos Xiloskalo you get to where the road ends.From here, at an altitude of 1,200 meters, starts walking.The majestic mountain that stands before you is Gigilos and tall on the right is the source Linoselli, where tradition says that Zeus often descended and took a swim!

Where the trail starts, steps cut into the rock to make it easier to pass.In the old days but they used a ladder made of logs, which gave its name Xiloskalo the site.From here to download approximately 50 minutes will bring you to the source Neroutsos and below the "root of the fig tree, with much running water.Two or three times crosses the torrent of the White Mountains in the spring spreads out the momentum of the water at your feet.All around, hidden in the vegetation, there are plenty of birds.

In less than two hours total hiking to get to San Nicolas.The one-room chapel is amazing in its simplicity and is among the giant cypress trees.Here are findings of an ancient temple where the cult of Apollo and Artemis.The agriorodo, a beautiful wild flower with white petals, yellow stamens and red pistil, grows here.The flower was a symbol of ancient doctors, and demigod Paionio.On Tap will Replenish with fresh water, while below the old village of Samaria, 7 km from Xyloskalo at an altitude of 350 meters will get a glimpse of another era.The village has been deserted since the last residents left here in 1965, when designated as a national park area.

How to get there
The airport of Akrotiri and Souda Bay is the most known places for your arrival in Chania.With the bus at Chania, morning and afternoon to get in Smooth and Xiloskalo in one hour and ten minutes after passing the village of Lakka and drive the successive turns.Of course you can come with your car, but you need someone to lead you to receive from Sfakia.

Park rules
The famous wild goats, the Cretan wild goats, living in Samaria, but hardly visible to amateur observers;The grand griffon skim the cliffs, and the oleanders and the burning bush complete the magic of space.

The National Park Gorge is open to visitors from May 1 until October 31.Forbidden natural setting fires, camping, accommodation, cut flowers, hunting, fishing and swimming in the streams.

Information Center
In Xiloskalo is the Information Centre where you will see how to parastatikotato the geological history of the gorge while numerous photos and sketches make known to the world's flora and fauna habitat, here in the deep folds of the White Mountains.

In the "Doors" and the Bible Roumeli
"Just before the village of Samaria, hundreds of small towers, three, four or five stone, erected by hikers in commemoration of the passage or as a sign and seal purely personal.

The Forest Directorate of Chania Prefecture with signs informing you that the locust tree, the myrtle, the lentisk and oleander, are mentioned as medicinal plants since the time of Dioscorides, one of the greatest physicians of antiquity.

The "Great Safflower" of Chiron, teacher of Asklepios and teacher of Achilles, was used as an excellent medicine for the wounds!All these are in the gorge.

We even see the mountain teas, thyme, savory, marjoram, oregano, and sage burning bush, known aromatic and medicinal plants used today as a beverage with therapeutic and soothing properties.

The village of Samaria is crowded a few hours a day, after a stay of visitors to National Park is prohibited prior to and after sunset.

The next source after the village is the partridge and then on the canyon narrows as you move far to the Doors.

Signs of forest authorities advise you to 'chasmophytes "who manage to survive in extreme conditions with little soil in small vertical fissures rocks!

The doors stand 11.5 km Xyloskalo.It is a very impressive feature of the narrowing canyon, with a minimum distance of 3 m and the drop to more than 300 meters!

The fossils of the vertical side surfaces reveal the geological history, adorn the surfaces of rocks in different places and experienced eye of experts here distinguishes organizations such as diatoms and sponges and "read" what was happening across the Mediterranean 180 million years ago at Jurassic and Oligocene periods ...

Then you find another remarkable staging post on Christ, water, chairs and plenty of shade.

Approximately 30 minutes from the doors and just leave the boundaries of the park, you arrive at the old St. Roumeli.

Twenty minutes later you reach the blue of the Libyan coast and New Roumeli Bible, which is located the remains of ancient Tarra now bustles with life.

FAST INFO

An interesting issue
It was a big failure if you did not mention the amazing version of the prefecture of Chania and Management Agency, National Park called "The Gorge of Samaria, shelter life, liberty base.An inexhaustible source of information and project a team of highly creative people!

Briefly ...
The 16 km hiking and 1,200 meters altitude difference from Xyloskalo to the sea requires a full six hours, while the boat from Agia Roumeli leads to Sfakia, Sougia or Paleochora.

From St. Roumeli in Bathroom
"In St. Roumeli in a perhaps the last paradise of our country, deserve even to stay overnight.

There will be pleased just to recovery from the long hike, but will enjoy the scenery of the White Mountains to mingle with the Libyan Sea, you will feel calm and of course tasting the local Cretan cuisine.But most importantly, if you wish you can thus begin early in the morning to pezoporisete the shoreline in an easterly direction to get filled with stunning scenery in Phoenix and bath.

From St. Roumeli So you leave early in the morning to go opposite the torrent to the east coast.Thence to corral the kids, open the syrmatoporta and see the remains of ancient Taras!The corral has occupied the ancient site ...

Three quarters later, you reach a junction where the left onto the trail continues to the village of St John, while you take the right path with tawny markings on rocks and pillars.An hour later, having crossed a piece of desert, dry and difficult to reach a height where your front and down low, close, highlighting the Marmara and across the Phoenix area house.The small beach with polished limestone rock by water, is simply amazing!The exit of the canyon Aradena is deeply impressive, and a canteen there are strikes as "manna from heaven!"

Route the coastal settlement with lupus two taverns and a small beach and continue to Phoenix, where you'll find a sea-like pool.From there, continue to ancient path, the megalith which act as stairs.Low see the bath, it really fascinates with its white and blue houses and guesthouses.From here you take the boat ANEDYK-making services in the southwest of Crete and Gavdos - to come eventually to Sfakia.

Ancient Tarra
The ancient city founded in the late 8th century BC, at the exit of Samaria Gorge and only marine communications she had with other cities of Crete, the Aegean islands and the peninsula Kyrrinaiki and Alexandria.Ancient Tarra continuously inhabited until the Roman and parcel of economic power is its own currency, one side depicting Cretan wild goats and other bee.

FAST INFO

St. Mary Roumeli
The church of St Mary Roumeli founded on the ruins of an ancient temple in 1500 BCaround in honor of Apollo or Artemis Vritomartidos, who was patron of ancient Tarra.The church was built in a Venetian building material of the ancient church, and deserve to watch the mosaics in the courtyard.St. Paul with a one hour walk east of Agia Roumeli will find the chapel by the sea.Built in Byzantine style by St. John the Hermit in commemoration of the crossing from where the Apostle Paul, in his return from Gavdos.It is picturesque, but the stark barracks of dissonance with welding generators are the aoton arbitrariness!Tower is worth the trouble to go up the fortress built by the Ottomans in order to suppress the Cretan Revolution of 1866-1869 years.And if you feel that views of the White Mountains and the Libyan not enough, climb a little higher after a second, smaller fort "sees" even farther!

ACCOMMODATION

Agia Roumeli
"Libyan" (28 250 91 362).A beautiful small hotel with very warm people.Sprung a garden, a widespread sophistication in artwork, definitely the best suggestions for those who seek their own Eden in the Bible Roumeli.

'GORGE »(28250 91225, 6977177249, www.faragi.com.gr).Unit apartments.All have wonderful views of the Libyan Sea in Sfakia and mountains.The apartments are comfortable and cool, have air conditioning, internet access and are equipped with coffee makers, etc. Very warm hospitality of the family Tzatzimakis.

Sfakia
"Libyan" (28 250 91 211).Clean, overlooking the harbor and Gavdos.The pavement of the country, in the heart of town, a hub for ships ANEDYK for the return bus to Chania.

DINING

Agia Roumeli
'GORGE' (28 250 91 225).Tavern below homonyms apartments.Ms. Fotoula Tzatzimakis cooks sfakianes genuine delicacies such as Sfakia pie, Stack and eggs, pies, tsigariasto goat, snails and more snails cooked (such as stuffed).There are also fresh fish.All dishes cooked with local products.

Sfakia
"Libyan» (28250 91211, www.sfakia-livikon.com).With nearly half century history.Dining sfakiano casserole, kreatotourtes, kaltsounakia, chtapodosalata, Fried vegetables stamnagathi, eggplant rolls, seafood and of course handouts sfakiano meat!

Askifou - Amoudara
"BARMPAGERONYMOS (28 250 95 211).A restaurant with excellent cuisine, as tsigariasto sfakiano goat, gruyere cheese and the youth and barrel wine.The Amazing George Gialedakis you serve.Above the restaurant are spotless rooms with mountain views Askifou.

ARTEMIS Agia Rumeli (28 250 91 322).In a beautiful garden you can taste delicious dishes especially local meat.Stuffed burgers, goat, lamb chops, bread from the oven and of course original Sfakia pie.

"Xiloskalo" in Xiloskalo (28210 52122, www.omalos.com).Tourist kiosk and restaurant with spectacular views of the canyon, the White Mountains and Gigilos.

Texts: Alexander Tsantoulas
Photos: John Ntrenogiannis, Claire Moustafellou, Penelope Tsantoula

Translation with google

Source Ethnos newspaper

One of the most exciting experiences in Crete, hiking in the Samaria Gorge, the longest in all of Europe. This is the second most popular attraction of the island and attracts every year about half a million visitors. It need not be a mathematician to calculate the number of tourists who walk the canyon during the summer months. If you think that amounts to thousands every day, can easily do the calculations.

The best time to visit is late spring or early autumn, and have the opportunity to appreciate its greatness and enjoy more privacy. Even if you need to travel on with so many people, is something definitely worth it.

Overall the route is 17 km and more to cover in 5-7 hours. In some places the ground is rough and not easy to walk, but enough to have a good physical condition and be careful. Wear hiking shoes and take your food and water - although you will find water sources along the route.

It started a long and marked parking area south of the village Smooth, where accommodation is available, provided you book in advance. This way you can prevent the crowds starting in the early morning. The canyon opens at 6:00 a.m. Keep your ticket because you will need later.

From the car park go straight to where it says "Xiloskalo. He is in fact a steep fidoto path that is dug into the rock and has both sides of the wooden railing for support and protection. This item is one of the most spectacular route, as the canyon descends to a depth of 700 m after only 3 km hike. In the background lies the church of St. Nicholas, where there are benches if you need some rest after a difficult descent.

In the course of the path and let out a little running in a horizontal ground when we head to one when the other side of the stream flowing in the middle of the canyon. In winter and early spring when the snow melts the stream becomes a raging torrent, which is why the canyon is closed until May.

After hiking 6.5 km deep in the canyon to the left of the trail you'll see the abandoned village of Samaria, whose residents fled in 1962 when the canyon was declared a national park.

After waiting the most shocking part of the route, a place where the canyon narrows so much that the so-called Sideroportes reaches only 3m wide and imposing walls rise 300 meters above. Then let out again and enter a more open valley, where there is another abandoned village of Samaria. There for security reasons you have to take your ticket, so be sure you got out of the gorge.

Twenty minutes away is the village of Agia Roumeli and Sea - cool and sexy for your tired feet. There are rooms for rent, boats and you go to other coastal villages (mainly in Chora Sfakia) where you can return to Chania and Rethymno bus. Buses link the gorge with the surrounding villages and towns every evening in summer.

Source: Journal RAM, June 2004 Issue

It is a big difference when you're visiting, passing from one place. Surely you know half and definitely feel even less. On the other hand, however, have more "clean" eye, you see that many residents, the locals, the overtake without question, considering the data, initially undefined arresting "sensations" in the air and then you start learning more depth. Then the game becomes more interesting place and are slowly being transformed. It is a simple way to approach the truth, but unfortunately it is very painful as the process. And mention the word "trend" because past experience tells me that I never figured something real from a single visit to a site. Not only the information you shape the field of vision is what ultimately feel after successive "passes". At that point, give up yourself and are based on how you feel the truth. And others may say that this "type" the truth is quite subjective, personal. Wrong. It's true that you taught me and just the place you as the recipient of knowledge and consciousness puts yourself inside it. How indeed expressing this is another matter. When you grab a pencil and paper or keyboard, there must have your mind!

All these thoughts sparked by my last visit to Crete. Books on Megalonisi have read and travel different also, I've seen pictures pile and I have taken so many others, but the island does not possess! Kritikos is not never going to become, because it needs to grow up again with another way of thinking, but nonetheless I love her very much. Mind very much sold out touring, but I also learned to bear this circumstance. Mantinades not know how to say, but with a small child Erotokritos am moved and shed tears. The "Army Mousouron" I nailed several times in the head and sing, but a free man I can not say that I am ... Singing just hope it keeps the walker. What I just want to argue is that Crete I have learned a lot so far. He has taught the same as place and as a way of Cretans. Difficult thing, Morea, being a Cretan. How to diafentepseis yourself in the 21st century and how being a lad ... mustache just not enough. I remember the old Renieri the snails to feed them pasta and talking ... Fuck you too to be able to become such a wonderful person!

With a modern ferry sfakiano veer from St Roumeli in Sfakia. From the start of the journey of two burly Sfakia, dressed in black with eyes that shine in the color of sea and sky, perched on the bottle. For a time and place have their eyes fixed on the sea and on land. Steadfast stay there and when looking at the deck surrounded by tourists have something angry and disdainful at the same time. What they were looking Does tosin hours with such dedication? Only those know ... Besides, are not only Cretans are Sfakians yet ... another race. Better or worse no one can say ... Other breed but sure! The ferry continued to tear the still waters of the Libyan Sea that afternoon and the sun with the last orange rays soften and sweeten the angry landscape of southern Crete.

Today I was one of 1,100 people who crossed the gorge of Samaria. If you figure sounds frightening, it should tell you that summer as day hikers visiting the canyon to reach 2500! Is a small panic in the beginning, gets kourniachtos, but apparently the pass and 2500 simply and quietly. Thousands of people cross daily from May 1 until October 31 in Samaria, but few are those who feel it finally made it hard to 6 hours walking. Most want to see first hand one the most beautiful landscapes of Europe, only some want to try their strength and to say that eventually went from there. Others are drawn by the international reputation and although wimps from the first kilometers reaching grumbling with swollen legs to finish. Few people pass through the canyon to see the island concentrated on 16 km course. Even fewer are those who come to "worship" in asimochromo Gigilos to greet the green-blue stream, to "speak" in Osia Maria, can lay the ruins of the village of Samaria, to smile freely in wild beasts, quenching with water from snow melting, to smell burning bush, to spend reverently from the stone door and redeemed by a dip in the crystal Libyan Sea.

"One is Faragas ..." Sfakians say, "... the other is Gorges." Only in Chania, the number of supernatural crack in the mountains reaching number 50. All of them are beautiful, all of them different and what walked offering excitement. Samaria Gorge, but definitely stands out, not only for your reputation to hold ground, but also for the excellent organization under the designation as a national park (from 1962 please!). Within 18 km of length brings tremendous images, clear Cretan, regal and unbeatable. The name comes from Osia Maria Egyptians venerated in a chapel outside the village in the gorge. Osia Maria / Maria Co / Co Maria / Samaria! There somewhere in the year say that a Titan Crete took a stab in the bowels of the earth and built the canyon. In the ancient city Kaino, in the gorge was born beautiful Vritomartis, the Cretan goddess Artemis loved the wild beasts. But this is always a breeze blowing of Freedom, both at Venetian, Turkish, and German Occupation. What also might contribute to the wild beasts, which straddle dancing Cretan gorge in less than half the time we need today? The History of the plateau for reliability and to the southern coast in St. Roumeli has devoted several chapters and all the important .

The current attraction and passable canyon was an inaccessible, rough but fully functional, living space for wild beasts and Cretans. Feel like home, walking through free and only when the canyon became a National Park dumped on the settlements and the bulwark of the Sfakia. But they became guardians, guardians of the gorge, and now watching this circumstance the monument not to spoil. Times have changed, slowly but changing the Cretans and even later the Sfakians!

The usual path followed by those walking in the canyon is downward. Starting after the plateau mesa, Xiloskalo position (the so called because the old times the inhabitants had built a rudimentary ladder from wood and tree trunks, pinning it to the cliff) and ends in St. Roumeli the Libyan Sea after 6 hours (average time with stops for rest),. The course is started early in the morning and the first four original kilometers downhill through the pine trees need attention (the stones slip, leading a sedentary life are "burned" in the warm-up etc.). At about 2 km are organized rest room with running water, shade, wooden benches, toilets and beautiful names - place names like "Neroutsos" "Fountain", "partridges water" etc.

The first major rest area is a plateau in Agios Nikolaos with huge ancient cypress trees. Here they say was the ancient city of New and near the church of St. Nicholas found fragments of pottery. In the middle right of the canyon road, and after the slope has now been completed, shows the abandoned village of Samaria now. Both the Up and Down the village is now ruined and the few standing houses have been repaired for keeping guards, or shaped in a primary care clinic, toilets, etc. Behind the ruins of the village have the opportunity to see up close the chamois, the ibex, or wild beasts, the sacred animals of the canyon from ancient times until today. Cretan wild goats, clinging to the steep slopes of towering rocks are brown and a black strip on the spine. Although sought after delicacy for Kritikarous maverick, about 2,000 animals protected xemytizoun gorge behind the village of Samaria because they often throw food guards. Near the village is the church of Osia Maria and can see just below the imposing size of the rocks. The path is the bed of the stream and the water now "appears" after the 11th kilometer of the route.

Fifteen minutes after the restroom "Christ" with its beautiful church, raised the "Sideroportes" of Samaria Gorge, one of the most photographed places in the world! 3 meters width, length and height of about 12 rock over 700 meters! It is far easier to spend the winter Doors to the stream download a lot of water, and loose stones from the top is easy all year round! Then the walls loose and open and exit the National Park not far away. In the cave, coming out of the canyon, waiting for the first places for rest and refreshments, followed by scattered old neighborhoods with dilapidated houses, the church of Agia Triada and soon to be seen ultimately the Libyan Sea.

In St. Roumeli, a lovely stone arched bridge has become "blocked" in the creek and the beautiful church of the Virgin Mary, which has built up in an ancient temple, waiting to see it as if you were tired. Place here, historians of the ancient city of Tarra (an important center of the Dorians), which was mentioned by Homer. The modern small city that has been created is far from being classified as scenic, and hordes of tourists arrive fatigued and hungry are filled taverns, cafes, and ferries them go to Sfakia. Besides road leading to Agia Roumeli there, just walk the gorge! The bathroom in the Libyan Sea, was incredibly refreshing. Very cool the ocean and quite deep. Lovely beach with black pebbles, terribly impressive picture of us are too artificial. Last to Know: The more time swimming, the easier it will leave a "grip" away!

Travel

From Chania on the position Xiloskalo distance is 42 km from Sfakia Chania back up through the gorge of Imbros, both PC 72. The easiest of all of course is to follow an organized group with a coach and a whole will need a whole day on this trip. Many people go to Sfakia, take the ferry to St. Roumeli placed in the first kilometers of the canyon (to the impressive doors) and return. The opposite, however, the canyon road (from which this description) may be more difficult uphill at the end, but has many advantages. You will yourself to the most beautiful places to enjoy a nice light and early morning dew, while the noon you're already under the shadow of the pines! Actually the crowd has the capacity to destroy all the beautiful pictures and all the senses ... Comfortable you rather be glad to frustrated! Be careful to wear shoes that will (light mountaineering boots are better than sports), the sunscreen, hat in the sun and pagouraki water to be with you for every eventuality. It's so kalopatimeno the path that does not require labeling, but you should know that the care is very good and the sensitivity of local and visiting great. Not only smoke in rest areas, no litter (there are always baskets) shall not cry, do not wade in the stream because the same water to drink in St. Roumeli and many others will read. Those with sensitive noses will have a shock now spring in the canyon. Is important to mention that the 450 species that thrive 70 are endemic and most aromatic!

ACCOMMODATION

In the gorge is prohibited stay or camp at any point. If you decide to spend the night, do it in St. Roumeli. When on 6 afternoon, and he left the gorge walker you will feel the difference. Alternatively you can stay overnight in Sfakia or intermediate (no way) idyllic harbor bath.

FOOD

Either Xiloskalo (best in Smooth) or St Roumeli will have the opportunity to eat whatever you want. You are good to have a small sandwich or some fruit to eat along with plenty of water during the 6 hours walking. Be careful not to overdo it just because it is easy to get up and walk with full stomach!

JOHN NTRENOGIANNIS

NEWS, 06/09/2000, Page: N81

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