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Lassithi, a land with body and soul.
The eastern part of Crete and southernmost part of Europe, with its unique beaches and picturesque towns, a land lived by people who carry thousands of years of tradition and culture.
Lassithi for you to discover with body and soul
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Agios Nikolaos
Ierapetra
Sitia
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The Aegean is the largest archipelago
of the Mediterranean. Its natural
environment is characterized by a
great variety of ecotopes and by high
endemism both in plants and animals.
The geologic history of the area as well as the long term influences from Europe, Africa and Asia have resulted in the unique physiognomy of each one of its 3,000 islands and islets.
Crete is the largest island of the Aegean. High mountains, numerous gorges and a plethora of caves have contributed enormously to Crete's environmental diversity.
Because of the insularity the rate of evolution in this corner of the Mediterranean is obvious. Scientists from various disciplines consider the Aegean archipelago as one of the most important natural laboratories.
An exhibition on the natural environment of Crete and the Aegean islands takes place in the Venetian "Neoria".
The halls of "Neoria" have been appropriately redesigned so the visitor can wander through realistic reconstructions (diorama) of the main ecotopes of the Aegean such as caves, beaches, high mountains, phrygana, forests, wetlands etc.
Characteristic animal and plant species are exhibited according to their ecological groupings. Emphasis is given to the endemic plants and animals.
The geological evolution of the area is presented through characteristic rocks and fossil plants and animals. Part of the photographic archive of the Museum, which is also on exhibition, covers the most characteristic animals, plants, rock-formations and pictures of the Aegean islands.
The Museum of Natural History of the University of Crete was established in the early '80's. It consists of five departments: Zoology, Botany, Anthropology, Geology - Palaentology and Mineralogy. Today the botanical and zoological collections are rich especially in invertebrates, mammals and flowering plants.
During the last two years, there have been three exhibitions on the natural environment of Crete, in parallel to the scientific research conducted by the Museum.
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