Zoodochos Pigi

Portela or Keratokambos Gorge is located at the south of the prefecture of Iraklion; the canyon starts from Hondros village and its exit is in Keratokambos. It is one of the most dangerous canyons in Greece. Especially after rainfall, visiting the gorge can turn fatal. The winter and the spring it has huge amounts of water in reverse from the rest canyons of the region. The canyon has 25 technical descents and the highest is 30m, the altitude difference between entrance and exit is 340m. It is a very beautiful and yet wild gorge, that’s why it is a legend of the region and considered as one of the most known canyons of Crete alongside with Ha and Arvi.The canyon is intersected by five faults which are responsible for its creation alongside with the gully erotion. 

These faults split Portela into three parts that make the gorge to have great diversity in plants, landscapes etc. Additionally something unique in this canyon is the huge quantities of mud that it contains. Perhaps this is because the appearance of the “Viannos” formation appearing before the gorge. This formation contains large quantities of argil which the waters flow brings into the canyon.The last rappel of the Portela is on rotten rock which makes the canyon to stop its way.

The small Skinias lake is located south of Karavados village, at the east part of Messara plain, off the Pirgos / Skinias to Viannos road. In the village turn right, and cross a ford to the dam. You can park at the outskirts of village and walk. The reservoir lies north of the village of Skinias towards Ano Viannos. The river is dammed to form the reservoir.

The Karavados/Skinias reservoir attracts ducks in winter and waders and herons on spring passage. A forked dirt track leads down to a long narrow reservoir with a dam at the Skinias end. There is a track alongside the south bank. Skinias village is first mentioned in a document of the ducal record in Handax in 1373. The name of Skinias comes from a plant name (Skinias=lentisk).  Baritis River supplies Skinia reservoir and a tributary the one in Karavado. The region lies in a nodal point for migratory birds and the good condition of habitats in Baritis river help the presence of a significant biodiversity.  Into the reservoir we can see plant society of potamogeton perfoliati that is first mentioned in Crete. The riverine vegetation in Baritis River is one of the most well preserved in Crete.

The best time for visiting the area is spring from the middle of March until late May and in autumn from early August until end of October. However winter and summer months offer good opportunities for bird watching. Karavados and Skinias Reservoir.

Martha village is located 54 kilometers south of Heraklion, at an altitude of 390 meters at the foot of the hill Koupa Dikti. The village consists of two small villages Pera Martha or Little Martha and Pode Martha or Great Martha.

For the origin of the name of the village there are two guesses. The first states that the name comes from the nun of the monastery dedicated to Annunciation that existed in the region, while the latter states that the name comes from a ruler lady whose mansion which ruins exist today and was near the monastery.