Crete

Crete (Greek: Κρήτη; [kriti]) is the laurgest an maist populous o the Greek islands, the fift lairgest island in the Mediterranean Sea, an ane o the thirteen admeenistrative regions o Greece. 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. Human geografie 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. References Freemit airtins Crete The offeecial wabsteid o the Greek Naitional Tourism Organisation