Samaria Gorge - camoe longest in Europe

Samaria Gorge - an unusual natural phenomenon, not only within Cyprus: it is the longest gorge in Europe. It is located in the western part of the island in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Its length -16 km and its width varies from 3 to 300 m, height is reached in the most spectacular places 600 m. To see this extraordinary natural phenomenon, we must prepare for the 6 - hour shift. Species that appeared to our view, is more than offset the effort. National Park, established around the valley in 1962, occupies 4,800 acres. On its territory live endangered species of wild goats, which the Cretans called Cree - Cree. Residents of the island care about preservation of the species under natural conditions, because similar animals have been portrayed by another Minoan vases. Eagles soar above the canyon and hawks, sometimes found partridges, and in the hollows of trees hiding Owls - Barn Owl. In the park grow numerous plants, including endemics. Here is a sprawling oaks, cedars, maples, sycamores, pines and cypress trees are so old that the girth of their trunks up to 7 pm Many of the local herbs have medicinal properties. Most here thyme and Cretan yasentsa, healing severe wounds. Not surprisingly, the beauty of these places have written more ancient historians (for example, Pliny the Elder). Old timers say that spirits live in the valley, so you should stay away from him. For dozens of years of dealing with them, they developed a kind of antidote to the evil forces, have a knife or a cross to draw a circle around himself. Courageous (ie ignorant) tourists come in droves to see with my own eyes this miracle of nature. The inspection is limited. From November to April, the gorge is closed out - for the converging waters and rockfalls. But in the summer, from May to October, open access, but the park operates only from 6:00 to 16:00. The journey begins in the highlands Omalos. The first phase of the so-called wooden staircase (Ksiloskalo), situated at an altitude of 1235 m. Furthermore, three-quarters of an hour down to 300 m to the observation deck Nerutsiko. After the next 40 minutes the road will lead us to the Church of St. Nicholas, situated at an altitude of 650 m. The next stop-abandoned village of Samaria (300 m). The main point of the route is very narrow segment of the Iron Gates Gorge (Sideroportes). This is the place where the width of the gap is reduced to 3 m, and forming it rocks grow up to 600 meters