GR4330007 - KOURTALIOTIKO FARANGI, FARANGI PREVELI

Other characteristics

The site, at the southern central Crete, includes the gorges of Preveli and of Kourtaliotis river, a narrow river with permanent water supply, which cuts through the gorge, flowing down a rocky bed, to end up to a small cove, with a sandy beach, 250 m in length and 60-70 m in width. At the estuary, a small pond with brackish is formed, in the middle of the beach, 10 m from the sea.The water from the springs of Agios Nikolas, middleway in the gorge, is collected by a water lock which supplies water to all the villages around.The main types of biotopes that characterize the site are: rock faces with characterizing chasmophytic vegetation and phrygana, at the slopes of the gorge; riparian arborescent vegetation with Phoenix theophrastii, Nerium oleander, Ceratonia siliqua; small coastal habitas at the estuary of the river, with Vitex-agnus castus and halophytic vegetation (Juncus maritimus and Phragmites australis) and small sand dunes; sea cliff vegetation and marine habitas, with Posidonia sea bedsThe Phoenix theophrastii forest -the second most important palm forest of Phoenix in Crete, aged of several decades, extends into the gorge at a distance of at least 600 m from the beach.NOTES The habitat of the constantly flowing mediterranean river with gravel bank (usually pebbles) and common perennials (not included in Annex I) covers a small percentage of the site and has excellent representativity, good conservation and goodglobal value.