Mountains and valleys[edit]

Crete is mountainous, and its character is defined by a high mountain range crossing from west to
east, formed by six different groups of mountains:

 The White Mountains or Lefka Ori 2,454 m (8,051 ft)

 The Idi Range (Psiloritis  35.18°N 24.82°E 2,456 m (8,058 ft)
 Asterousia Mountains 1,231 m (4,039 ft)
 Kedros 1,777 m (5,830 ft)
 The Dikti Mountains 2,148 m (7,047 ft)
 Thripti 1,489 m (4,885 ft)
These mountains lavish Crete with valleys, such as Amari valley, fertile plateaus, such as Lasithi
plateau, Omalos and Nidha; caves, such as Gourgouthakas, Diktaion, and Idaion (the birthplace of
the ancient Greek god Zeus); and a number of gorges.
Mountains in Crete are the object of tremendous fascination both for locals and tourists. The
mountains have been seen as a key feature of the island's distinctiveness, especially since the time
of Romantic travellers' writing. Contemporary Cretans distinguish between highlanders and
lowlanders; the former often claim to reside in places affording a higher/better climatic but also moral
environment. In keeping with the legacy of Romantic authors, the mountains are seen as having
determined their residents' 'resistance' to past invaders which relates to the oft-encountered idea
that highlanders are 'purer' in terms of less intermarriages with occupiers. For residents of
mountainous areas, such as Sfakia in western Crete, the aridness and rockiness of the mountains is
emphasised as an element of pride and is often compared to the alleged soft-soiled mountains of
others parts of Greece or the world.[11]