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A walk through the Samria Gorge, Crete. Pt1
A walk along the Samaria Gorge. Pt.1
The Samaria Gorge in Crete is claimed to be longest Gorge in Europe, it runs between two mountains in the White Mountain chain. To the west is Mount Valakias and to the East Lefka Ori. These Mountains rise to 2000m (6500ft).
In Winter the river running through the Gorge is a violent torrent due to the torrential mountain rains, in Summer however it is reduced to a meandering stream. In Spring and Autumn the Gorge can be closed to visitors at short notice as sudden rain can suddenly turn the stream into a very dangerous fast flowing river. The day after we did the walk they closed the Gorge.
The Gorge is 16km (10miles) long and has been a National Park since 1962, when you reach the gates at the end of the walk you have a further 2km (1.25mile) to walk to the coastal village of Aya Roumeli where you can get on the only transport to take you back to ‘civilisation’, the ferry to Hora Sfakion.
The start of the walk is at an elevation of around 1250m (4000ft) and during the first 2km you zig zig down the side of the mountain dropping 350m (1150ft) and your knees feel it.
Right onto some photos.
The Start.
8:30am Sun has been up a little over an hour and at the top it is a cool fresh morning.
The White Mountains 1.
The White Mountains 2.
Once through the entrance gates you descend through very green woodland even at the end of summer. This path cuts down the mountain side through the woods dropping 350m in 2km.
The Samaria Start.
Eventually you hit the river bed at the bottom of the first stretch and you are still surrounded by plenty of greenery.
Start of Riverbed.
As you stroll along the riverbed you notice the sides are rising and closing in until you are eventually confronted by this view at the start of the chasm.
Opening The Chasm.
The Samaria Gorge in Crete is claimed to be longest Gorge in Europe, it runs between two mountains in the White Mountain chain. To the west is Mount Valakias and to the East Lefka Ori. These Mountains rise to 2000m (6500ft).
In Winter the river running through the Gorge is a violent torrent due to the torrential mountain rains, in Summer however it is reduced to a meandering stream. In Spring and Autumn the Gorge can be closed to visitors at short notice as sudden rain can suddenly turn the stream into a very dangerous fast flowing river. The day after we did the walk they closed the Gorge.
The Gorge is 16km (10miles) long and has been a National Park since 1962, when you reach the gates at the end of the walk you have a further 2km (1.25mile) to walk to the coastal village of Aya Roumeli where you can get on the only transport to take you back to ‘civilisation’, the ferry to Hora Sfakion.
The start of the walk is at an elevation of around 1250m (4000ft) and during the first 2km you zig zig down the side of the mountain dropping 350m (1150ft) and your knees feel it.
Right onto some photos.
The Start.
8:30am Sun has been up a little over an hour and at the top it is a cool fresh morning.
The White Mountains 1.
The White Mountains 2.
Once through the entrance gates you descend through very green woodland even at the end of summer. This path cuts down the mountain side through the woods dropping 350m in 2km.
The Samaria Start.
Eventually you hit the river bed at the bottom of the first stretch and you are still surrounded by plenty of greenery.
Start of Riverbed.
As you stroll along the riverbed you notice the sides are rising and closing in until you are eventually confronted by this view at the start of the chasm.
Opening The Chasm.
“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter, because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the ordinary.”
David Bailey
www.padge.smugmug.com
David Bailey
www.padge.smugmug.com
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