Katharo
Encyclopedia
Katharo is a plateau
on the 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 (9.9 mi) from Kritsa
(asphalt road) and 12 km (7.5 mi) from Mesa Lassithi (rough mountain road). It is 4 km (2.5 mi) long, 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) wide and at an average altitude of 1150 m (3,773 ft) above sea level, (300 m (984.3 ft) higher than Lassithi Plateau). On the West of the Katharo are the peaks of Spathi (2148 m (7,047.2 ft)) and Lazaros (2085 m (6,840.6 ft)), and on the North East and East are the peaks of Tsivi (1665 m (5,462.6 ft)) and Platia Koryfi (1485 m (4,872 ft)). 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; 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).
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
on the Dikti
Dikti
Dikti or Dicte is a mountain range on the east of the island of Crete in the prefecture of Lassithi. On the west it extends to the prefecture of Heraklio.According to the Greek Mythology, Zeus was reared on this mountain...
mountain on the island of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, in the prefecture of Lassithi. Administratively it belongs to the municipality of Aghios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos, Crete
Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2000, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed around 19,000...
, (municipal division of Kritsa
Kritsa
Kritsa is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Crete, Greece, built amphitheatrically on a rock hill, named Kastellos, surrounded by olive groves, at an altitude of 375 m. It is part of the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. During the Middle Ages, it was thought to be the largest...
). It is 16 km (9.9 mi) from Kritsa
Kritsa
Kritsa is one of the oldest and most picturesque villages in Crete, Greece, built amphitheatrically on a rock hill, named Kastellos, surrounded by olive groves, at an altitude of 375 m. It is part of the municipality of Agios Nikolaos. During the Middle Ages, it was thought to be the largest...
(asphalt road) and 12 km (7.5 mi) from Mesa Lassithi (rough mountain road). It is 4 km (2.5 mi) long, 1.5 km (0.93205910497471 mi) wide and at an average altitude of 1150 m (3,773 ft) above sea level, (300 m (984.3 ft) higher than Lassithi Plateau). On the West of the Katharo are the peaks of Spathi (2148 m (7,047.2 ft)) and Lazaros (2085 m (6,840.6 ft)), and on the North East and East are the peaks of Tsivi (1665 m (5,462.6 ft)) and Platia Koryfi (1485 m (4,872 ft)). 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; 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).