Dikti

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The Dikti mountains (Greek Δίκτη Dikte ) or Lasithi Mountains ( Λασιθιώτικα Όρη Lasithiotika Ori) is a ridge on the Greek island of Crete. The mountain range is located in the southeast of the island in the regional districts of Heraklion and Lasithi between the towns of Heraklion and Agios Nikolaos.

The mountains reached by mountain Dikte a height of up to 2148 meters, making it the third highest mountain of Crete. It is about 30 kilometers long and up to 14 kilometers wide. In addition to the Dikte two other peaks reach an altitude of over 2000 meters, the Afentis Christos ( Αφέντης Χριστός ) with 2141 meters and the Lazaros ( Λάζαρος ) with 2085 meters. Seven more mountains are over 1500 meters high.

In modern times until the 19th century that the mountain was named Lasithi. Topographic details of ancient authors such as Strabo led to the identification of the mountains as the Dikte of antiquity, which had been lying between the Mount Ida and the Cape Samonion in the extreme northeast of the island. Since then, in addition to the name of Lasithi Dikte has established for the mountains.

The hills of the Dikti Mountains surround the Lasithi Plateau, the largest area of ​​high plateau of Crete. The heights of the mountains are almost without vegetation and virtually uninhabited. There are small settlements and villages, where the few inhabitants live mainly from livestock on the lower slopes and on the plateau.