Crete

It forms a significant pairt o the economy an cultural heritage o Greece while retainin its awn local cultural traits (sic as its awn dialect, poetry, an muisic). Crete wis the centre o the Minoan ceevilization (c. 2700–1420 BC), the earliest "heich cultur" ceevilization in Europe, which biggit the first pailaces in Europe.

Crete Περιφέρεια Κρήτης
Region o Greece
Coordinates: 35°13′N 24°55′E / 35.21°N 24.91°E / 35.21; 24.91
Kintra	Greece
Capital	Heraklion
Regional units	Leet Chania Heraklion Lasithi Rethymno
Govrenment
• Regional govrenor	Stavros Arnaoutakis (PASOK)
Area
• Total	8336 km2 (3,219 sq mi)
Highest elevation	2456 m (8,058 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	621,340
• Density	75/km2 (190/sq mi)
ISO 3166 code	GR-M
Website	www.crete-region.gr

Crete is the maist populous island in Greece wi a population o mair nor 600,000 fowk. Approximately 42% live in Crete's main ceeties an touns whilst 45% live in rural auries.

Admeenistration

Crete wi its nearbi islands form the Crete Region (Greek: Περιφέρεια Κρήτης), ane o the 13 regions o Greece which wur established in the 1987 admeenistrative reform. Wi the 2010 Kallikratis plan, the pouers an authority o the regions wur redefinit an extendit. The region is based at Heraklion an is dividit intae fower regional units (pre-Kallikratis prefecturs). Frae wast tae east thir are: Chania, Rethymno, Heraklion an Lasithi. Thir are faur subdividit intae 24 municipalities.

The region's govrenor is, syne 1 Januar 2011, Stavros Arnaoutakis, who wis electit in the November 2010 local admeenistration elections for the Panhellenic Socialist Muivement.

• Crete The offeecial wabsteid o the Greek Naitional Tourism Organisation