Sfakia

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Sfakia (Greek Σφακιά (n. pl. ) ), Also transcribed Sphakia, is a village ( Δήμος, Dimos ) in the southeast of the regional prefecture of Chania, on the Greek Mediterranean island of Crete. The island forms one of the 13 regions of Greece.

According to the census of 2001, lived at this time a total of 2419 inhabitants in the municipality constantly. According to the census of 2011, there are still 1889 inhabitants. Administrative center is the village of 265 inhabitants, Sfakia on the south coast of the municipality of Sfakia on the Bay ( Όρμος Σφακίων ).

• 2.1 Archaeology
• 2.2 Museums

• 3.1 Traffic

Geography

Geographical Location

The south coast of Crete, in the Sfakia is the community, bordering the Libyan Sea, a part of the Mediterranean. The municipality has an area of ​​467.6 km ². The east- west extent is about 40 km, the north-south extent of 18 km.

The municipal area comprises the mountainous region in the west of the White Mountains (White Mountains ) to the east of Omalos Plateau. On the eastern foothills of the White Mountains along the road passes from the North to the South Coast the Askifou Plateau. Here, mountains rise in the western Sfakia steeply into the sea, in some ravine outputs small beaches have formed. East of the road to pull the mountains to the community Finikas. Here's the mountains a larger coastal plain in front with sandy beaches and numerous small bays.

Several large canyons, with smaller side canyons, run in a north -south direction. From the West, these are the Tripiti, Kladou (or Domata ), Samaria, Eligia, Aradena, Iligias, Sfakiano, Imbros, Asfendou and Kallikratis Gorge. Until the construction of the road, the Imbros Gorge was the main access from the north of Sfakia.

Neighboring communities

Sfakia is bordered to the east by the municipality of Agios Vasilios, on the west by Anatoliko Selino, on the northwest by Moussouri. North adjacent places are Therissos, ceramics, Armeni, Fre, Kryonerida, Georgioupolis and the community Asi Gonia. With the exception of Agios Vasilios, part of the Regional District of Rethymno, the other neighboring communities are part of the regional prefecture of Chania.

Districts and settlements

The municipality of Sfakia is identical to the former province ( επαρχία ) Sfakia, which consisted of nine rural communities ( κοινότητες ), which were combined after the Kapodistrias Plan, the Greek government reform of 1997, at a single community ( δήμος ). They remained unchanged after the Kallikratis law. The community consists of nine villages, each with some villages and settlements (population figures for 2011 ).

• Agia Roumeli ( Αγία Ρουμέλη ), 57 inh Agia Roumeli, 57 inh
• Palea Agia Roumeli ( Παλαιά Αγία Ρουμέλη ), uninhabited

• Agios Ioannis, 29 inh
• Aradena ( Αράδαινα ), 4 inh

• Anopolis, 242 inhabitants
• Finikas, ( Φοίνικας ), 13 inh
• Livaniana ( Λιβανιανά ), 4 inh
• Loutro ( Λουτρό ), population 56
• Lykos ( Λύκος ), 19 inh

• Ammoudari ( Αμμουδάρι ), 164 inhabitants
• Goni ( Γωνί ), 20 inh
• Kares ( Καρές ), 168 inhabitants
• Petre ( Πετρές ), 42 inh

• Asfendos, uninhabited
• Agios Nektarios ( Άγιος Νεκτάριος ), 55 inh
• Koutelos ( Κούτελος ), 68 inh
• Nomikiana ( Νομικιανά ), 68 inh
• Vouvas ( Βουβάς ), 142 inhabitants

• Sfakia ( Χώρα Σφακίων ), 265 inhabitants Sfakia, 212 inhabitants
• Komitades ( Κομιτάδες ), 53 inh

• Imbros, 62 inh
• Vraskas ( Βρασκάς ), 6 inh

• Frangokastello ( Φραγκοκάστελλο ), population 148
• Patsianos, 100 inhabitants
• Kallikratis ( Καλλικράτης ), 20 inh
• Kapsodasos ( Καψοδάσος ), 46 inh

• Skaloti, 84 inh
• Argoules ( Αργουλές ), 41 inh
• Lakki ( Λάκκοι ), 27 inh

In the unity of the towns and settlements, the life form of traditional pastoral society reflects: Asfendos for example, located in the mountains on a small plateau, Agios Nektarios, Vouvas and Nomikiana are almost at the foot of the mountain range on the northern edge of the coastal plain of Frangokastello. The same applies to Imbros and Vraskas and Kallikratis and Patsianos / Kapsodasos. The mountain villages are connected through a canyon with coastal locations. Traditionally, they were inhabited only in summer. In autumn, when the sheep and goats could no longer feed them, attracted the inhabitants to their herds near the coast. With better road connecting the villages, power supply and improved heating facilities the mountain villages are now inhabited part all year.

The western coastal towns of Loutro, Agia Roumeli Likos and have not (yet) no road connection and can be reached only on foot or donkey paths or by boat. On package tourism they participate so little. During the summer months they will be attended by individual and hiking tourists that attract numerous hiking opportunities around Samaria and Aradenaschlucht and the European long distance path E4. During the winter months these places are often also concluded from ship traffic and almost completely deserted.

Climate

In Crete prevails a mild Mediterranean climate with over 300 sunny days a year, and in the summer in the southeast occasional strong winds from the south ( Sirkos ) drive the temperatures up. Rains are less frequent than in the south to the north coast and in the mountain regions. On the island you will find a small scale diversified climates with considerable variations between high and plains and in the mountain ranges separated by the regions of the coastline.

The central summit region of the White Mountains is one of the few European desert areas. Although fall especially during the cold season sufficient rainfall, but with snowmelt seeps all the water immediately in the soil, so that the normally to be found at this altitude vegetation can not thrive.

History, Culture and sights

Archeology

Archaeology and History of Sphakia presently covered by a Field Survey of the University of Oxford.

Museums

• War Museum of Yorgos Chatzidakis in Kares / Askifou On the northern edge of the Askifou level in the village of Kares have Yorgos Chatzidakis (d. 2007) and his father military equipment of all types and from all warring parties, documents, magazines and books collected. Focus is on the German occupation of Crete, as well as exhibits from previous wars, agricultural implements, a raki - combustion apparatus and a Cretan rooms can be visited. Many findings have thrown away the Allied soldiers during their retreat to Sfakia end of May 1941 mar. they pursued Wehrmacht soldiers. The museum has no fixed opening times, the owners live on the premises, showing the exhibition and offer in the outdoor seating area of ​​Raki or coffee. A voluntary contribution in order to get the issue further can be expected.

Economy and infrastructure

Traffic

Of area, the largest municipality in the regional county of Chania is accessible only by a few thoroughfares because of its topography. From the north coast, a road leads over Vrysses and Askifou plateau according to Sfakia and from there via Anopolis up to Agios Ioannis. From this road, two roads branch off in an easterly direction from: Imbros in the road that Asfendos and Kallikratis by Asi Gonia, bez. Myriokefala, and from there via Argyroupolis leads to the north coast and between Komitades and Sfakia a descent to the villages of Frangokastello Coastal Plain and on to Plakias. Since 2007, the serpentine descent is from the Asfendos - Kallikratis asphalted road down by Patsianos / Kapsodassos. Numerous gravel roads and some paved roads lead to the sheep and goat willow, the smaller plateau, to the more remote villages and settlements abandoned and dilapidated.

From Chania drive over Vrysses regular bus service to Sfakia and once daily to Anopolis and in the Frangokastello level. For the tourist season many coaches carry twice daily Samaria hikers from the ferry in Sfakia back to the north coast.

Regular ferry to the island of Gavdos and exist between Sfakia - Loutro - Agia Roumeli and from there to Soughia and Paleochora. Among the places Loutro and Agia Roumeli ( at the output of the Samaria gorge ) can only be reached by boat or on foot. From Sfakia ride in the tourist season boats for Glyka Nera beach and from Loutro to Marmara beach at the exit of Aradena Gorge.