Imbros Gorge

Imbros Gorge (Greek Φαράγγι Ίμπρου, Farángi Imbrou ) is according to the Samaria Gorge one of the most visited gorges of Crete. The trail through the gorge is eight kilometers long and runs from the village of Imbros south of the fertile Askyfou level down until after Komitades the Libyan Sea. Here, a difference in height of about 650 meters is overcome.

Is named the gorge - according to legend - after two brothers who were once banished from the island of Imbros to Crete and there founded the present village of Imbros.

Before building the road to Chora Sfakia the Imbros Gorge was the main transport route from the north coast of Crete (Chania) in the province of Sfakia on the south coast of the island. Even today, remnants of the fortified mule path to find. The gorge was used throughout history as a retreat and escape route several times in disputes with the various occupying powers. For example, indicates a Marmoratafel to a cave where in 1867 Sfakiots to have been murdered by the Ottoman rulers.

During World War II thousands of Allied soldiers tried through the canyon to get to the south coast to be evacuated from there to Egypt. Many had pursued and captured by German troops take the way back and became POW.

Especially since the Samaria Gorge is too crowded, are increasingly being offered day trips to the Imbros Gorge. For the season, the municipality of Sfakia requires an entrance fee for the commission, the tickets will be controlled to approximately half way for a tube-like constriction. The walking time is about two hours. Imbros Gorge is one of the more easily accessible gorges of Crete, there are to overcome any climbing or other difficult passages. Because of the coarse gravelly subsoil ( riverbed ) must still be worn footwear. The canyon seems to lead only after exceptional rains water, so an inspection even in winter is possible.

The flora of the canyon reflects the two climate zones, which they crossed on their course. In the southern, lower and drier part outweighs sparse vegetation - a tree dominates the Cretan cypress (the round, not the candle-shaped growth form ), whereas it is more diverse in the upper part. Here mingle increasingly oaks and sycamores among the conifers, also the high shrub Phrygana like the wild thyme grows significantly denser.

Through the gorge of the European long distance path E4 passes.