In 1961, the Greek authorities took the first official steps to establish a national park in the Samaria Gorge area of western Crete. A report from the newspaper "Kiryx" at the time documented the initial actions and arrival of officials to set the process in motion. Today, Samaria Gorge is one of Europe's longest gorges at 16 kilometres and one of Crete's most visited natural attractions. Located in the White Mountains (Lefka Ori) of the Chania regional unit, the national park protects rare flora and fauna, including the Cretan wild goat (kri-kri). Visitors can hike the gorge from May to October, starting from the Omalos plateau and ending at the seaside village of Agia Roumeli. Sturdy footwear and water are essential for the full-day trek.
