During the ancient period the island was wracked by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and winter storms, resulting in craggy landscapes and rich, fertile soils. Three mountain ranges form a sort of spine stretching across the island.
In western Crete, the Lefka Ori or White Mountains occupy a large area within the prefecture of Chania and contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 metres high. The highest peak in this area is Pahnes, at 2,452 metres above sea level. The Idi or Psiloritis Range in the centre of the island contains the highest peak in Crete, Mount Idi (Psiloritis) at 2,456 metres above sea level. At the eastern end of the island are the Dikte Mountains with several peaks above 2,000 metres high. See a map of Greece.
The first Olympic Games were held in 776 B.C. At first, only one race (the sprint) was run. Later, the discus and javelin throw, broad jumping and wrestling were added. The Olympic Games were held for more than 1,000 years. They were abolished by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in 394 A.D.
The Games were revived in 1896 to promote understanding and friendship among nations. The first modern games were held in Athens, Greece. Young men and women come from all over the world to compete in various sports and represent their country. They live in an Olympic Village at the site of the games.
The same geological forces that created the mountain ranges also created awe-inspiring gorges throughout the island. Faragi Samarias (Samaria Gorge) is the most famous with a length of 16km, making it the longest gorge in Europe as well as one of the most impressive thousands of tourists take the 6- to 7- hour walk every year. Another less well-known gorge is the Faragi Imbrou (Imbros Gorge) that begins at the plain of Imbros and ends at the Libyan Sea beside Hora Sfakion. The Kotsifou Gorge and the Kourtaliotiko Faragi (Kourtaliotiko Gorge) are only a few kilometres away from one another, near Plakias in the prefecture of Rethimnon