Gorges and canyons on Crete: Once you have been reading about the numerous walks we organize, you will quickly come to the conclusion that there are many gorges on Crete. It is not only the Samaria gorge or the Imbros gorge. Crete even has the nickname “the island of the 100 canyons”. Anyone who reads more into it, will come to conclusion that this is no exaggeration.
The formation of gorges
All in all, it is nevertheless quite remarkable that there are so many gorges on one island. Therefore, it might be interesting to understand how Mother Nature created these on Crete. The gorges are formed mainly in calcium carbonate rocks, like limestone and marble. Scientists have concluded, that in general the formation of a canyon is the result of a long process of geological weathering of rocks by water erosion. But on Crete this has not been entirely the case. There is even evidence that after heavy rainfall and water flows the bottom of a canyon hardly changes.
So, the only other explanation of the existence of gorges on Crete is the tectonic activity. Rocks were initially formed in the sea by the collision of the African plate with the European. These rocks were slowly pushed upwards. Through this geological upward lifting of the island there was too much pressure on some rocks. Making them so to speak ripping apart. These fault lines became wider as a result of erosion, whether it was because of a river flowing through or by big changes in temperature. Limestone and generally all calcium carbonated rocks are extremely hard and durable, but dissolve easily in rainwater, just like butter melts in the heat. Other factors will eventually also have played a role, such as prehistoric fauna and much later the presence of humans.
Uplifting pressure
When one studies the rocks in the gorges, it shows that the formation dates at least back to the Pleistocene period. The uplifting pressure on the rocks began around 13 million years ago, and was 5 million years ago the most intense. This means that the Minoan population has seen Crete in more or less the same form as we see it today. Another nice fact is, that even today you can still find fossils of animals from the sea, high up in the mountains.
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Excursions on Crete: Here you find a lot of information about excursions during your holiday on Crete like: car and bike rental, car and accommodation, diving, cycling, hiking, hiking combinations on Crete, Greek cooking lesson, playing golf, boat trips, horseback riding, outdoor activities, sailing, jeep safari, fishing, group excursions, active holiday on Crete, weekly excursion programs or fly-drive.
Holiday information Crete Zorbas Island: For renting apartments and holiday homes, all your excursions and cheap flights to Crete. If you are looking for apartment rental and accommodation on Crete, you have come to the right place. We have a variety of apartments, suitable for families, singles, couples or more people travelling together. We can help you to organize your holiday on Crete Greece to your wishes. An active outdoor vacation, active holidays, a beach holiday, or a combination of both we can all realize for you.
To give you an impression of your vacation in Zorbas Island on Crete, we have created a “Zorbas Island” movie for you: Zorbas Island Vacation movie in 5 Minutes.
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