Περιγραφή Τόπου |
The site is situated at the northeastern part of Crete, west of Chania.The coastal part includes Platanias, a sandy beach, and the estuary of Keritis stream. Inland the site continues along Keritis stream and it includes the artificial lake of Agia. Although it is not a natural lake, it supports a varied selection of wetland communities (probably the most varied in the Cretan area). On the south the site reaches to Fasas valley.According to the historical data, in the past there was a small bog at the same place where the artificial lake exists today. Agia's hydrological basin is different from the one of Keritis and includes the slopes north of Vathipetro village. Xekolomenos stream on the east supplies the lake with water. The lake is also supplied on the west side by some underground springs originating from Keritis stream. At the periphery of the wetland, large stands of Phragmites australis are important for the structure of the lake ecosystem. On the southern part of Agia the Public Enterprises of Water Supply and Draining of Chania is installed. Close to the installations there are two large stands of Eucalyptus tostrata and Pinus brutia. Keritis stream has a permanent flow only at its southern part -after the lake of Agia- where it is supplied by the lake's water; its upper part has an intermittent flow. Keritis estuary is structures mainly by Phragmites australis while on the beach there are sand dunes dominated by Ammophila arenaria. Potamogeton luceus, Potamogeton trichoides, Callitriche cophocarpa are species important for the ecological balance and the structure of the coastal sand dunes. The southern part of the site, Fasas valley, probably the most humid valley of Crete, is characterised by linear wetland habitats, particularly well developed. In the upstream part of the valley along the river there are three vegetation types of Brachypodio-Holoschoenion. Notably the steep wet schistose rocks harbour the Acrocladio-Adiantetum and particularly the species-rich variant Scirpus cernuus with many rare bryophytes. The ferns (a habitat type not included in Annex I) cover a small part of the site with excellent representativity and good conservation status. |