The pathway connects the settlements of Maridaki and Tsoutsouros. It comprises a characteristic route of the south side of Asterousia mountain range of unique aesthetical value. The area belongs to the European environmental network of “NATURA 2000”. Walking on the old pathway, the visitor will be impressed by the wild landscape; the caves; the slit of the rocks, the cliffs; the wooded gorges with streams (see Mindris Gorge); the dry stone walls and the view towards the deep blue of the Libyan Sea.

The whole area lives under the vivid presence of myths, folklore stories and fairytales about dragons, wild beasts and giants, stories about illegal archaeological excavations of the past as well as contemporary imaginary stories and peculiarities. One of the caves along the pathway, where two locust trees stand at its entrance, is characteristically named “the Dragon cave”. After a hike of approximately one hour, the pathway ends at the contemporary coastal settlement of Tsoutsouros (or Tsoutsouras), which stands on the ruins of the ancient settlement of Inatos, the seaport of the ancient town of Priansos that was located near Kasteliana village.

At the ancient town of Inatos, the “goddess of labour”, Eileithyia was worshipped in a devotional cave from the old-palaces Minoan period until the end of antiquity. Important objects found into the cave from archaeologists were copper and clay statuettes of men, pregnant women and amorous positions as well as Egyptian statuettes of faience that give evidence of the sanctuary’s importance outside Crete’ boundaries.

The existence of big predatory birds, like the Vulture (Gyps fulvus) and Harrier Eagle (Gypaetus barbatus) as well as the localization of 192 different bird species rank the area among the most important in Crete from an ornithological point of view.

The conversation of the pathway was carried by the Forest Directorial of Heraklion during realization of the European Programme LIFE-Nature 2002 “Actions for the Conservation-Protection of the Harrier Eagle and Biodiversity in Crete” and it consists part of a pathway network that connects with E4 European corridor.

Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki Hiking in south Crete: Tsoutsouros - Maridaki

July 22, 2012. Our walk began in the middle of the way from Kasteliana village - Tsoutsouras. We began on a little dirt road and after on a little downhill path and we reached the river bed Myntri, which flows to the beach of Tsoutsouras.

Then we followed a marked path beside the bed of the river and through the shade of the locust trees we passed the ruins of ancient Inatos and arrived at the beach.

Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros Mindris gorge, Tsoutsouros

Photos by the Naturalist Club Heraklion - Fysi.gr

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