Μέρη κοντινά με Εκκλησία
Στην ΒΔ πλευρά του οικισμού Μέσα Λασίθι, στη θέση Πατέλα, υπάρχει ένα από τα πιο όμορφα δάση από δρυς στην περιφέρεια του Ν. Λασιθίου.Επίσης, ιδιαίτερου φυσικού κάλους είναι και το φαράγγι του Χαυγά, που βρίσκεται στα ΝΑ του οικισμού. Η διάβαση του διαρκεί μία ώρα και καταλήγει στις θρυλικές «Νεραϊδοκολύμπες».Στο Μέσα Λασίθι αναπτύχθηκε από τις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα μέχρι και τα μέσα του 20ου αιώνα η εκκλησιαστική ξυλογλυπτική. Μια γενιά συγγενείς νιταδώροι (ξυλογλύπτες τέμπλων) του Μέσα Λασιθίου φιλοτέχνησαν περί τα 200 ξυλόγλυπτα τέμπλα που βρίσκονται σε ναούς και μοναστήρια του Οροπεδίου Λασιθίου και στις επαρχίες Μεραμβέλλου, Ιεράπετρας, Πεδιάδας, Βιάννου, Σητείας και Μυλοποτάμου. Οι κυριότεροι εκφραστές αυτής της τέχνης προέρχονταν από τις οικογένειες των Μακράκηδων και των Χαλάτσηδων.
ΑΛΟΙΔΑ
Το καταφύγιο και ορμητήριο των χαϊνηδων της ανατολικής Κρήτης. Εδώ φώλιασε η αντάρτικη ομάδα που ίδρυσε και καθοδηγούσε ο Μανόλης Καζάνης πριν και κταά τη διάρκεια της επανάστστασης του 1821, που μέλος της υπήρξε κοι η θρυλική Ροδάνθη.
Katharo is a plateau on the east side of Dikti mountain on the island of Crete, in the prefecture of Lassithi. Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Aghios Nikolaos, (municipal division of Kritsa).
It is 16 km from Kritsa (asphalt road) and 12 km from Mesa Lassithi (rough mountain road). It is 4km long, 1.5km wide and at an average altitude of 1150m above the sea level (300 m higher than Lassithi Plateau).
On the West of the Katharo are the peaks of Spathi (2148m) and Lazaros (2085m) and on the North East and East the peaks of Tsivi (1665m) and Platia Koryfi (1485m). The waters of the Plateau drain through the Havgas gorge into the much larger but lower Plateau of Lassithi, i.e. Katharo is part of river Aposelemis drainage area.Due to its altitude the plateau is not inhabited in winter while in summer it has about 500 inhabitants mainly shepherds and a few tavernas. Katharo has a special property status and is essentially community-owned. The fertile soil of the plateau is used for production of vegetables, potatoes and fruit (grapes, pears, apples).
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For those who love not only mountains and luxuriant vegetation, but also stark rock, a visit to the Plateau of Katharo should not be missed. Located sixteen kilometers west of Kritsa, at a height of 1.150 meters, the plateau of 60,000 stremma stretches out and here cereals,vegetables, vineyards and fruit-trees are cultivated.Flocks of thousands of local sheep and goats generate dairy products of the highest quality. Katharo is also interesting because of the paleontological discoveries of dwarf hippopotamus and elephant fossils.
It is 16 km from Kritsa (asphalt road) and 12 km from Mesa Lassithi (rough mountain road). It is 4km long, 1.5km wide and at an average altitude of 1150m above the sea level (300 m higher than Lassithi Plateau).
On the West of the Katharo are the peaks of Spathi (2148m) and Lazaros (2085m) and on the North East and East the peaks of Tsivi (1665m) and Platia Koryfi (1485m). The waters of the Plateau drain through the Havgas gorge into the much larger but lower Plateau of Lassithi, i.e. Katharo is part of river Aposelemis drainage area.Due to its altitude the plateau is not inhabited in winter while in summer it has about 500 inhabitants mainly shepherds and a few tavernas. Katharo has a special property status and is essentially community-owned. The fertile soil of the plateau is used for production of vegetables, potatoes and fruit (grapes, pears, apples).
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Hiking with the Mountaineering Club of Agios Nikolaos (http://pezopories.blogspot.com):
See the route in the first image..
The route starts from the Church of the Holy Cross, which is approximately 20 minutes drive to west from the small village square in Katharo plateau with tavernas.
Ξωκλήσι του Τιμίου Σταυρού. Βρίσκεται στη δυτική πλευρά του οροπεδίου Καθαρού, στην περιοχή ‘Κοπράκι’.
The village of Katharo Plateau
For those who love not only mountains and luxuriant vegetation, but also stark rock, a visit to the Plateau of Katharo should not be missed. Located sixteen kilometers west of Kritsa, at a height of 1.150 meters, the plateau of 60,000 stremma stretches out and here cereals,vegetables, vineyards and fruit-trees are cultivated.Flocks of thousands of local sheep and goats generate dairy products of the highest quality. Katharo is also interesting because of the paleontological discoveries of dwarf hippopotamus and elephant fossils.