The gorge of Samaria starts on the southern side of the Omalos plateau, on the White Mountains of Crete, from the site Xyloskalo, at 1,200m. height. Its other edge, 16 km away, touches the shores of the Libyan Sea. The gorge - unique in the Mediterranean - is, along with the surrounding slopes and smaller gorges, part of the Samaria National Park.The gorge of Samaria starts on the southern side of the Omalos plateau, on the White Mountains of Crete, from the site Xyloskalo, at 1,200m. height. Its other edge, 16 km away, touches the shores of the Libyan Sea. The gorge - unique in the Mediterranean - is, along with the surrounding slopes and smaller gorges, part of the Samaria National Park.

The proclamation of the area as National Park was made in 1962 (DD 781/62). The aim was to protect the important and peculiar elements in the 48,500 acres of the area, that make up the fascinating physiognomy of its natural and cultural heritage.

The gorge was created in a very distant past. About 14 million years ago, the forces that moved the earth's crust pushed, rocked and ruptured the layers of the rocks of the region. Since then, the water of the rain has begun to act, rolling southeast to the Sea, digging the rocks ever deeper (limestones, dolomites, sistolites, marbles, etc.), creating the narrow (up to 3.5" !), steep and imposing place of the gorge. The water, with its torrents and 22 springs, continues to be one of the most important characters of the National Park today. The caves, such as Demonospilion, the rocks with a strong fold, the many high peaks, such as those of Melindaou (2134), Volakia (2117 m.) and Gigilos (1864 m), as well as the abundant cliffs are yet some of the mountain characters.

The image is complemented by the flora and fauna, equal in interest, variety and uniqueness to the landscape. Many consist forms of life that are not found anywhere else in the world, that is, they are endemic. This is because the whole island was isolated millions of years ago from the rest of Greece. But the area itself had little contact with the eastern part of the island because of the high mountains. Thus, with these particular conditions, plants and animals found shelter and protection here, while disappearing from other places.

The species of plants living in the National Park are more than 450. About 70 of them are endemic species and subspecies of Crete, such as Amaracus dictamnus, Ebenus cretica, Zelkova abelicea, Traditional Cretan Pine (Pinus brutia cretica). Bupleurum kalaskalae and Myosotis refracta refracta are plants that live exclusively in the gorge. Onobrychis sphaciotica, Helichrysum heldrechii and Cephalanthera cucculata are among the very rare endangered ones.

Of the animals in the area many are endemic Cretan species and subspecies. Famous among them are the Cretan wildcat or wild goat (Capra aegagtus cretica), which has been widely sung and inspires art with so much energy from ancient times till today. Here lives also the Cretan mermaid (Meles meles arcalus), the Cretaceous fern (Martes foina bunites), the Acomys myrmious, the Cretan mussels (Mustela nivalis galitillis), an the endemic lizard subspecies, saliams, frogs, etc. Gyps fulvus and Gypaetus barbatus can also be seen flying - the latter being one of the most rare and endangered birds in Europe. It's very likely to see the Nigeriaetus fasciatus and the golden-eyed eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

There is a great diversity of habitats - areas where wildlife species live, reproduce and evolve. Each has its peculiarities in terms of geomorphology, climate, terrain, plants and land: mountain meadows, caves, maple forests, pine trees or cypress trees, hillsides and waterfalls, and grasslands and toasters; running waters and their banks, areas with carob trees, chips and oleanders. Their continuous rotation is really charming. These habitats also include those where the human influence is more intense, such as the Samaria settlement and the sites around the central path.

The image of the gorge gets complete with the presence of man who, for centuries - from the Neolithic years - has been in this environment, but has also been shaped by it. Character, myths and traditions, history, occupations, architecture. The prehistoric settlements, the city of Chenon, the city of Tarra, the oracle and the sanctuary of Apollo and, as a necessary supplement, the early Christian tombs, the Byzantine temples, the village of Samaria, the Venetian castles. These are only some of the marks of men who lived in the area. At the heart of the gorge is a chapel from 1379, dedicated to Santa Maria; the nearby village was named by it, as well as the whole gorge. The isolation and exuberance of the area helped the place become the bastion of Christianity during the Ottoman domination and all kinds of persecutions, liberation struggles and revolutions. The wealth of the gorge, natural and cultural, are unmatched.