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Periphery: Crete
Prefectures : Chania , Heraklion, Lasithi , Rethymno

Chania, Municipalities, Satelliteimage

Statistics
Periphery:	Crete
Capital:	Chania
Area:	2376 km²
Elevation:	Lowest: Aegean Sea Highest: south-central part
Inhabitants (2001):	150387
ISO 3166-2:	GR-94
FIPS code:	GR43
Car designation:	XN
Code for the municipalities:	-xx
Number of municipalities:	23
Number of independent communes:	2

Chania prefecture is one of the four prefectures of Crete, Greece. It covers the westernmost quarter of the island. The capital is the city of Chania. Chania is bounded with the only prefecture, the Rethymno Prefecture to the east. The Cretan Sea is bounded to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the west and south. The prefecture includes the southernmost point and island in Europe, Gavdos.

Description

Chania prefecture, often informally termed 'Western Crete', is a beautiful and in many parts unspoilt part of the island. Districts include verdant Apokoronas, mountainous Sfakia, and Selino in the far South West corner. Some other notable towns in the Chania prefecture are: Hóra Sfakíon, Kastelli-Kissamos, Paleohora, Maleme, Vrisses, Vamos, Georgioupolis and Kalives.

White Mountains

The natural park of Samaria Gorge, a major tourist attraction and a refuge for the rare Cretan wild goat or kri kri, is in the South of the prefecture of Chania. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori, through which the Samaria, Aradena, Imbros and other gorges run, are the limestone peaks topped by snow until May that occupy much of Chania prefecture. They contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest peak in this area is Pahnes, at 2,452 meters above sea level.

Western Crete is popular with tourists for its spring flowers that linger on into early May in the mountains. Birdwatching is also popular, with the lammergeier and golden eagle especially sought for. As an island, Crete has many endemic species of plant and animal.

Crete's only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas, is in the prefecture close to the border with Rethymno Prefecture, 47 km from Chania. It is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. The lake used to be called 'Korisia' after ancient 'Korion', a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena. The lake used to be reportedly full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourists. Tavernas and pedalo rental shops line part of the shore. Overall, however, the lake retains its beauty, the White Mountains reflected in the mirror-like waters.

Phalasarna

Municipalities

The municipalities of Chania prefecture, highlighting the municipality of Chania

Municipality	YPES code	Seat	Postal code	Area code ((0)30-)
Akrotiri	-	Pythari	731 00	28210-6
Anatoliko Selino	-	Kampanos	730 09	28230-5
Armeni	-	Kalives	730 08	28250-3
Chania	-	Chania	731 00	28210-2 thru 7
Eleftherios Venizelos	-	Mournies	733 00	28210-9
Fres	-	Fres	730 06	28210-7
Georgioupolis	-	Kavros-Kournas	730 07	28250-9
Innachori (or Inachorion or Oinachori)	-	Elos	730 13	28220-6
Kandanos	-	Kandanos	730 04	28220-3
Keramia	-	Gerolakos	731 00	28210
Kissamos	-	Kastelli-Kissamos	734 00	28220-2
Kolymvari	-	Kolymvari	730 06	28240-2
Kryonerida	-	Vrisses (Apokoronas)	730 07	28250-5
Mythimna	-	Drapani	730 04	28220-3
Mousouri	-	Alikianos	730 05	28220-3
Nea Kydonia	-	Nea Kydonia	731 00	28210-3
Pelekanos	-	Paleohora	730 01	28230-2
Platanias	-	Gerani	730 04	28210-6
Sfakia	-	Hora Sfakion	730 11	28250-9
Souda	-	Souda	732 00	282210-2
Theriso	-	Vamvakopoulo	731	28210-9
Vamos	-	Vamos	730 08	28250-2
Voukolies	-	Voukolies	730 02	28240-3