KRITI - Geography and history
Crete, the land of Zeus, is the southernmost point in Europe and the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean, covering an area of 8 336 km2. It comprises the nomí of Heraklio, Chania, Lassithi and Rethimno, and the regional capital is Heraklio. The density of population is 68 inhabitants per km2.
Crete is one of Greece's mountainous regions, and the variety of its landscape lends it a unique beauty. The coastal regions consist of indented shorelines and beaches, whilst the interior is divided from west to east by the ranges of the Psiloritis, the White Mountains and Dikti, through which run the famous gorges of Samaria, Nimbros and the Kourtaliotiko. The natural environment, combined with the unique monuments of the Minoan civilization (the palaces of Knossos and Festos) and the climate, has contributed to the boom in tourism and the development of Crete.
The main characteristics of the Cretan people are their deep love of their island, their love of freedom, a deeply rooted sense of honour and their observance of tradition. These characteristics, combined with the Cretan dialect, set the island apart from the rest of Greece.
A high-quality environment; the island's strength
The island's battles for independence, union with Greece and the Cretan people's passionate nature and love of their island have created a basic cohesion which is one of the main factors in the region's development.
Local associations of agricultural cooperatives and producers have been particularly active, and competitive factories for the processing and packaging of agricultural produce have been set up. Furthermore, the climate of Crete favours the cultivation of out-of-season crops throughout the year, making the region the country's chief supplier of early fruit and vegetables, avocados and grapefruit.
Even so, agricultural output is low due to the low proportion of irrigated land, legislation that allows the fragmentation of holdings and poor transport and marketing facilities.
Crete's natural beauty has contributed to the tourist boom, with Crete now accounting for 22% of the total number of hotels in Greece and 28% of the hotel beds.
The absence of an industrial tradition and the geographical position of Crete have hampered the development of industry; the small number of industrial activities pursued are craft and family ventures with low productivity.
Two rival cities
The development of tourism and agriculture has had a major impact on regional contrasts. The high-growth areas have thus developed more, whilst the problems of the disadvantaged areas have been compounded. The development of Crete has been concentrated in the north, where the region's main urban centres are situated, particularly around the cities of Chania and Heraklio, which are in constant economic, social and cultural rivalry.
Trade in agricultural products is handled exclusively via the northern ports and airports, which are Crete's sole transit centres. In addition, the two main conurbations account for all secondary-sector production, with the region's industrial and craft activity wholly concentrated in the industrial zones, which have grown up around Heraklio and Chania. As a result, urban utilities and social services (e.g. hospitals, universities, communications) are more highly developed than in the more sparsely populated south of the island.
Climatological differences between the north and the south have contributed to the diversity of crops, with tropical vegetation thriving in the south whilst grapes and olives are grown in the plains of the interior and in the north. The plains also differ from the region's mountainous areas in respect of employment patterns and the quality of life. The mountainous areas are oriented more towards stock rearing, and the level of development is exceptionally low.
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