Top 15 Lakes in Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Χανίων

Lake Kournas is today the only large natural lake in Crete and is located in a magical landscape. Surrounded by high mountains and olive groves. It is located next to the village of Kournas, 2.5 km southeast of Georgioupolis beach, 43 km east of Chania and 20 km west of Rethymnon. Lake Kournas and its surroundings form a very important ecosystem for Greece. Kournas is one of the very few regions of Crete where vast amounts of fresh water have accumulated over the years. That is why it is under the protection of the Natura 2000 program. On one side of the lake are cafes and restaurants with a view of the lake. Adjacent to the cafes, small beaches with white sand form in the summer when the water level drops. Visitors can swim on these beaches and rent umbrellas. Visitors can also go pedal boating and kayaking here. It is an ideal choice for the afternoon when the water takes on a wonderful color and is calm. The lake was formed by the accumulation of groundwater coming from the mountains. The water bubbles up from a spring called Amati or Mati (it means "eye"), which is above the lake's water level in the summer, while it is hidden below the surface in the winter. A second spring is below the surface all year round. The lake is small, round, and covers an area of 570 acres, has a maximum depth of 22.5 meters, is 1080 meters long and 880 meters wide. In the summer, there are 7.5 million cubic meters of water in the lake. The lake is fed by the Delfinas river. Source: cretanbeaches.com/de/str%C3%A4nde-in-kreta/str%C3%A4nde-auf-chania-west-kreta/kournas-see-chania

"Teach me to dance... come on, boy!" And on this beach in 1964, Anthony Quinn taught Alan Bates the "Sirtaki." This final scene from "Zorba the Greek," filmed by German cinematographer Walter Lassally and awarded an Oscar, thus shows the "birth" and "birthplace" of the Sirtaki. Because the Sirtaki isn't an original Greek dance. It incorporates sequences from various Greek dances. Furthermore, Anthony Quinn had injured his ankle beforehand and was severely hampered in his dancing abilities. On the opposite hillside, the location where the collapsing wooden cable car was filmed is clearly visible. In 1979, I rode an old bicycle from Chania to this lagoon... and it was very, very empty. For those interested in culture... the film's plot is based on the novel "Zorba" by Nikos Kazantzakis, in which he created a monument to his friend.

Depending on the vegetation, the trail is barely or not at all accessible.

Super nice place for swimming and snorkeling.

Magnificent view from the Akrotiri peninsula of the Souda Bay with the cruise terminal. It is the largest natural harbor in the Mediterranean and, because of its anchorages that are more than 100 meters deep, is also used by the military for submarines and aircraft carriers; if you're lucky, you might even spot one. Currently (July 24), the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is anchored there after its deployment off Israel.

It is easy to find the entrances where you can easily get past the rocks into the water.

Aspri Limni (the White Lake) is located near the settlement of the monastery of Chrysoskalitissa and is about 5 km from the cosmopolitan Elafonisi. The beach is wild (no infrastructure) and is surrounded by a rare palm forest and some cedars. A beautiful lagoon has formed there, separated from the sea by rocks and thus completely protected from high waves. The beach is rarely occupied by many people - and to keep it that way: "Psssssssssst! Don't tell anyone!!!"

White Lake Beach is easily accessible, it is located close to the road. There is a parking lot for a handful of cars right on the beach. Only a few parking spaces. Three parasols, that's all the infrastructure. But it is much quieter than Elafonissi Beach. Two small sandy beaches invite you to swim. One is difficult to access.