Mount Ida (Crete)
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The Psiloreitis seen massif from the west
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The Psiloreitis Massif or Mount Ida (Greek Ίδη, Idi, f sg. ) Is one of three 2,000 -meter high mountain ranges of the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete. It is situated in Central Crete, southwest of the capital Heraklion.
The highest peak of the massif is 2456 meters, the Psiloreitis ( gr Ψηλορείτης ( m. sg. ), Dt around, High mountain '), after the summit chapel also Timios Stavros ( Τίμιος Σταυρός, Reverend Cross ' called ). It is surrounded by four other mountain peaks with over 2200 meters of altitude: the Agathias ( ο Αγκαθιάς ) with 2424 meters, the Stolistra ( η Στολίστρα ) with 2325 meters, the Voulomenou ( η Βουλομένου ) with 2267 meters and the Koussakas ( ο Κούσσακας ) with 2209 meters. The ancient name of the mountain Ida is used today partially. He opened up from the name of the Nida Plateau, which had preserved the ancient writings referred to in the name of the mountain.
Geology
The spatial extent of the massif in east-west direction extends over more than 30 kilometers from the Arkadi monastery until after Krousonas in the east. The central and western parts of the massif consist mainly of rocks of the lithographic series, the eastern parts of gray Tripoliza - limestones. The mountain range is marked by strong karstification, which led, among others for the formation of Nida and several large caves.
Flora and Fauna
The Doric name for the mountain meant highlands '. Millennia long overgrazing and deforestation had a decline in the wooded area to residual stocks as the Rouvas forest ( Δάσος Ρούβα ) result. Today plants dominate in the habit of Phrygana. Until the peak heights thrive frost - and drought- resistant plants that are exposed to continuous browsing by goats and sheep, which also feed into the highest regions. The dominant plant in bush form is here the Astragalus Astragalus angustifolius.
Although still more affected by overgrazing as for example the White Mountains was further increased strongly in Psiloritisgebiet by EU funding in the sheep and goat population. Nevertheless, almost half of all Cretan endemics in the Ida Mountains are home, which is also reported as a whole at European level as an Important Bird Area.
South and north of the massif runs in an East -West direction roads connecting many small villages along the mountain slopes. Paved north-south transport links there are just west and east of the massif. A mostly unpaved road connects the achievable of Anoghia from Nida Plateau to the south of the massif village Gergeri.
Hiking Destinations in Mount Ida include the Nida Plateau south of Anoghia that Idäische Grotto ( Ideon Andron ) on the western slope of the plane, the Kamares cave, the archaeological site Zominthos and the opening out at Zaros in the south Rouvas Gorge the north to in the Rouvas forest - the largest Kermeseichenwald Crete - leads.
The mount Psiloritis is to wander from multiple starting points, marked paths and roads lead among other things from Fourfouras, Lochria, Kamares, Zaros, Gergeri, Asites, Krousonas and Anoghia ( on the Nida Plateau ) to the summit region. Some of these paths belongs to E4 European long distance path.
The summit area is very arid. In addition to the Summit Chapel cistern is applied, the water is safe to drink only boiled. As accommodations stone shelters in the construction of shepherds' huts ( Mitata ) are attached to the chapel Timios Stavros.
Swell
- Mount Idha ( Psiloreitis ). Topographic hiking map 1:25.000, Anavasi, Athens, 2006, ISBN 960-8195-90- X.
- Merian ( travel magazine ) " Crete ", April 4, 1978
- Dagmar Lange, Monika Guardian: Nature Guide - Crete. BLV, Munich 1999, ISBN 3-405-15524- X.