Chrysi
Encyclopedia
Chrysi also transliterated as Chrissi, and alternatively known as Gaidouronisi (Γαϊδουρονήσι, "donkey island"), is an uninhabited Greek island approximately 15 km south of Crete
close to Ierapetra in the Libyan Sea
. Approximately 700m east of the island is the island of Mikronisi. Administratively these islands fall within the Ierapetra
municipality in Lasithi Prefecture.
It is possible to visit Chrysi by sea from Ierapetra and from Myrtos
. There is a nudist beach on the north coast of the island. The highest point on the island is called Kefala ("head") and it is 31m above sea-level. On the western part of the island is the chapel of Saint Nicholas (estimated to date to the 13th century). There are also a salt pan
, an old port, some Minoan
ruins, a lighthouse and a Roman cemetery. Due to the shallow waters around Chrysi, snorkelling and diving is a popular pastime. The Belegrina, Hatzivolakas, and Kataprosopo bays have a wide diversity of shells.
It is possible to reach the island from Ierapetra between middle of May and late October.
forest in Europe. There is no fresh water on the island. The majority of trees have an average age of 200 years and average height of up to 7 metres, some of the trees are up to 300 years old and 10 metres tall. The density is approximately 28 trees per hectare.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
close to Ierapetra in the Libyan Sea
Libyan Sea
The Libyan Sea is the portion of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the African coast of ancient Libya, i.e. Cyrenaica and Marmarica...
. Approximately 700m east of the island is the island of Mikronisi. Administratively these islands fall within the Ierapetra
Ierapetra
Ierapetra is a town in the southeast of the Greek island of Crete and a municipality of Crete region.-History:The town of Ierapetra is located on the southeast coast of Crete, along the beach of Ierapetra Bay. It lies south of Agios Nikolaos and southwest of Sitia and is an important regional...
municipality in Lasithi Prefecture.
Tourism
Myrtos
Myrtos is a coastal village in the west of the municipality of Ierapetra, in the prefecture of Lasithi on the island of Crete in Greece. It is located from Ierapetra, the most southern town of Europe and from Agios Nikolaos, on the road to Viannos...
. There is a nudist beach on the north coast of the island. The highest point on the island is called Kefala ("head") and it is 31m above sea-level. On the western part of the island is the chapel of Saint Nicholas (estimated to date to the 13th century). There are also a salt pan
Salt pan
Salt pans can refer to:*Salt pan , a flat expanse of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually found in deserts*Salt evaporation pond, a method of producing salt by evaporating brine...
, an old port, some Minoan
Minoan civilization
The Minoan civilization was a Bronze Age civilization that arose on the island of Crete and flourished from approximately the 27th century BC to the 15th century BC. It was rediscovered at the beginning of the 20th century through the work of the British archaeologist Arthur Evans...
ruins, a lighthouse and a Roman cemetery. Due to the shallow waters around Chrysi, snorkelling and diving is a popular pastime. The Belegrina, Hatzivolakas, and Kataprosopo bays have a wide diversity of shells.
It is possible to reach the island from Ierapetra between middle of May and late October.
Environmental protection
Chrysi is protected as an "area of intense natural beauty". The island hosts the largest naturally formed Lebanon cedarLebanon Cedar
Cedrus libani is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean region.There are two distinct types that are considered to be different subspecies or varieties. Lebanon cedar or Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani is a species of cedar native to the mountains of the Mediterranean...
forest in Europe. There is no fresh water on the island. The majority of trees have an average age of 200 years and average height of up to 7 metres, some of the trees are up to 300 years old and 10 metres tall. The density is approximately 28 trees per hectare.
External links
- Chrysi Island ( English, 52 Translation Option )
- Ierapetra Community, Island Chrysi (Greek)
- Chrysi Island (English)