Elafonisi
The small tropical heaven, the small flat island that is separated by the land and between there are only a few meters of shallow sea, it is the absolute destination of all those who come in the prefecture of Chania. The island gave its name to the broader area. The shallow crystal water, the fine sand with the reddish colors taken by the broken shells, the tufts of cedar trees that have their roots in the sand-dunes, they all made Elafonisi a great destination for thousands of people. In the past, the huge waves terrorized seamen as winds pussed boats to the dispersed reefs. This was also the case of the Austrian ship “Imperatrix” that was sunk here in 1908. Approximately 40 people lost their lives and got buried on the island. But the most tragic story connected with Elafonisi is another one: on Easter Sunday of 1824, the Turks slaughtered about 40 warriors and 500, others say 900, women and children and many others were sold as slaves. It was one of the onerous events of the Cretan history. Another fact in the road to freedom. In this place that once was a massacre place, today thousands of people come
from all over the world to live peacefully and enjoy the magic of the place. In summer, the place is choking by the crowd. After many efforts, this place was integrated in the protected areas of Natura 2000. Today trees and plants are protected by fences. Signs with information on the species of plants of the area inform us. Êedrodasos (Cedar forest) After a great effort, the road leads us to one of the most beautiful areas of Western Crete. A dense cedar forest, sanddunes and volcanic rocks make a pilgrim to the waves and form an unprecedented image of great taste. On the contrary to the easily accessible Elafonisi, everything is wild; the trees, the sea, the morphology of the land. Until recently, the cedar forest was visitable for only a few persons who knew and enjoyed its charm. But now, every summer the number of people which arrive here becomes bigger. Here there is no water nor other infrastructure. In order to keep accommodating the people who love nature and its great charm, this splendid corner of Crete worth the respect of all of us.
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