Chania Prefecture

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Chania Prefecture Νομός Χανίων

Periphery	Crete
Capital	Chania
Population	156,371 (2005)Ranked 19th
Area	2,376 km² Ranked 27th
Population density	65.8/km²Ranked 17th
Number of provinces	5
Number of municipalities	23
Number of communities	2
Postal codes	73x xx, 740 55
Area codes	282x0, 28310
Licence plate code	ΧΝ
ISO 3166-2 code	GR-94

Chania prefecture is one of the four prefectures of Crete. It covers the westernmost quarter of the island. The capital is the city of Chania. Chania borders only one other prefecture, that of Rethymno Prefecture to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea, and to the west and south by the Mediterranean Sea. The prefecture includes the southernmost island in Europe, Gavdos. Chania prefecture is divided into 5 provinces: Apokoronas, Kissamos, Kydonia, Selino, and Sfakia.

1 Description
2 Municipalities and communities
3 Miscellaneous
4 External links

[edit] Description

Chania prefecture, often informally termed 'Western Crete', is a beautiful and in many parts unspoilt part of the island. Districts include verdant Apokoronas, mountainous Sfakia, and Selino in the far South West corner. Some other notable towns in the Chania prefecture are: Hóra Sfakíon, Kastelli-Kissamos, Paleochora, Maleme, Vrisses, Vamos, Georgioupolis and Kalives.

The natural park of Samaria Gorge, a major tourist attraction and a refuge for the rare Cretan wild goat or kri kri, is in the South of the prefecture of Chania. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori, through which the Samaria, Aradena, Imbros and other gorges run, are the limestone peaks topped by snow until May that occupy much of Chania prefecture. They contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest peak in this area is Pahnes, at 2,452 meters above sea level.

Western Crete is popular with tourists for its spring flowers that linger on into early May in the mountains. Birdwatching is also popular, with the lammergeier and golden eagle especially sought for. As an island, Crete has many endemic species of plant and animal.

Crete's only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas, is in the prefecture close to the border with Rethymno Prefecture, 47 km from Chania. It is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. The lake used to be called 'Korisia' after ancient 'Korion', a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena. The lake used to be reportedly full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourists. Tavernas and pedalo rental shops line part of the shore. Overall, however, the lake retains its beauty, the White Mountains reflected in the mirror-like waters.

[edit] Municipalities and communities

The municipalities of Chania prefecture, highlighting the municipality of Chania

Municipality	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Akrotiri	5301	Pythari	731 00	28210-6
Anatoliko Selino	5302	Kampanos	730 09	28230-5
Armenoi	5303	Kalives	730 08	28250-3
Chania	5325		731 00	28210-2 through 7
Eleftherios Venizelos	5309	Mournies	733 00	28210-9
Fres	5324		730 06	28210-7
Georgioupoli	5308	Kournas	730 07	28250-9
Innachori	5311	Elos	730 13	28220-6
Kandanos	5312		730 04	28220-3
Keramia	5313	Gerolakkos	731 00	28210
Kissamos	5314		734 00	28220-2
Kolymvari	5315		730 06	28240-2
Kryonerida	5316	Vryses	730 07	28250-5
Mousouroi	5317	Alikianos	730 05	28220-3
Mythimna	5318	Drapanias	730 04	28220-3
Nea Kydonia	5319	Daratsos	731 00	28210-3
Pelekanos	5320	Paleochora	730 01	28230-2
Platanias	5321	Gerani	730 04	28210-6
Sfakia	5323	Chora Sfakion	730 11	28250-9
Souda	5322		732 00	282210-2
Theriso	5310	Vamvakopoulo	731	28210-9
Vamos	5305		730 08	28250-2
Voukolies	5306		730 02	28240-3
Community	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Asi Gonia	5304		740 55	28310-4
Gavdos	5307		730 01	28230-4