For the creation of all the RAGiF (Routaki’s Audio Guide info Files) an enormous amount of research was done. This resulted in up to 300.000 words of information divided into several subjects. On this page you’ll find in the diversity of categories the links to the Geographical facts pages were you can read the whole (or basic) story for the information that is given to you in audio form when you drive one of the routes of Routaki.
Around 1900 Heraklion only counted about 12.000 inhabitants. The city started expanding in 1923 when large groups of Greeks were chased away from Turkey and settled on Crete. Nowadays the city counts about 150.000 inhabitants. Read more about the capital of the island.
The name can be traced back to ancient times when the city was called Rithymna, coming from the ancient Greek word for dolphin: Rithy. On the armor of Rethymno you can still see two dolphins which have become the symbol of this lively town.
Read more about the third biggest city of the island.
Agia Varvara owes its name to the church that is situated in the middle. The church is also considered to be the geographic centre of Crete. The square in front of the church is therefore also called ‘the navel of Crete’. Read more about the region of Agia Varvara.
The touristic attraction of Agios Nicolaos is the former lake of Voulismeni in the heart of the city. The lake is 64 metres deep and is also called ‘the lake without a bottom’.
Read more about Agios Nicolaos, the capital city of the prefecture Lassithi.
Ierápetra is the most southerly situated city of Greece. The cultivation of cucumbers and tomatoes influences the rhythm of life of the approximately 8500 inhabitants of this city. Read more about Ierapetra and farmer Paul Kuipers.