Hochebenen, Wälder & Parks

Katharo Plateau

Lasithi-Hochebene, Lasithi · Free

Highlights & amenities

Entry: Free

About

A remote summer plateau above Kritsa.

The Katharo plateau lies at about 1,100 m in the Dikti mountains, above the village of Kritsa. It's a remote plateau, used for farming and grazing in summer, when people from Kritsa come up to their houses here.

The road from Kritsa to Katharo is winding but beautiful, with views over the Mirabello gulf. Fossils of dwarf hippos have been found on the plateau.

Katharo is 4 km long and 1.5 km wide, at about 1,150 m, higher than the Lasithi plateau. Its waters drain through the Havgas gorge to the Lasithi area. Because of its altitude, it's covered in snow in winter, and people from Kritsa only live here in summer, farming potatoes, vines and fruit trees. Fossils of dwarf hippos and elephants have been found here.

Around Lasithi-Hochebene

Nearest town: Agios Nikolaos, about 19 km by road
Nearest airport: Heraklion airport (HER), about 54 km by road

Lasithi, the eastern end of Crete, is quieter and greener than you might expect. Agios Nikolaos wraps around a small lake and a lively harbour, with cafés on the water and beaches within walking distance. Just north, Elounda and Plaka look across to the fortress island of Spinalonga, one of the most moving places on the island. More about Lasithi