Elounda windmills

Windmills are a feature of eastern Crete ( Lassithi ) where rivers are absent. In Western Crete, where there are more springs and rivers, watermills were mainly developed.

The mills were built into mountainsides and in places exposed to the winds. Contrary to the tradition of building mills on mountains, on the side of Elounda salt pans , we meet three windmills, at the scenic point where a canal connecting the lagoon of Elounda with the south shores has been constructed.

They all were circular, turning to all winds (this type is called Xetrocharis ).