Canyons in Greece

The territory of Greece is dotted with many canyons and gorges, both in the mainland and the islands. The limestone landscape of the country was affected by the rainfalls and snow melting from the mountains and resulting in the formation of large canyons. These canyons in Greece are precious biotopes for wild animals, birds, insects and other rare species of fauna.

Over the last years, a new kind of active holiday has developed in Greece: canyoning. This extreme sport includes hiking and climbing in canyons and if necessary swim in waterfalls. There are some alpine and mountaineering clubs in Greece that practice people in these sports and organize excursions in popular canyons in Greece.

Some Impressive Gorges

A very impressive gorge in Greece is Vikos Gorge, located on the northwestern side of the country, in the region of Epirus, near Zagorochoria. Vikos is the second deepest gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon in the USA. As it is run by river Voidomatis, many sports activities are organized there, such as rafting, canoe kayak, and mountain climbing. Other large gorges in the mainland of Greece are Loussios Gorge and Vouraikos Gorge in Peloponnese, Olympus Gorge and Seli Gorge in Macedonia.

Famous Gorges of Crete island

Crete island is the place with the largest number of gorges. In fact, the island of Crete has more than 250 small or large gorges. Some are crossed by rivers, some are totally inaccessible, while others are crossed by motor roads. The largest canyon in Crete is Samaria Gorge which needs about 6 to 7 hours to cross it from one side to the other. Other large gorges in Crete are the Gorge of Ha, the Gorge of the Dead, Preveli Gorge, Aradena Gorge which is the highest bungee jumping site in Greece, Myli Gorge, Kourtaliotiko Gorge, and many others.