The Vegetation; trees, plants and herbs

For the creation of all RAGiF’s (Routaki Audio Guide info Files) a lot of research has been done on all aspects of Crete. This resulted in at least 300,000 words of information divided over the different subjects. On this page you will find links to the pages where you can read the whole (or the basic) story for the information that is played to you in audio form when you drive or walk one of the Routaki routes.

Agave cacti with the north coast on the background

Agave plant (cactus) on Crete

The Agave plant is more known as the small cactus on the window-sill. Here these plants are about one metre high. They were brought from Mexico to Crete about 300 years ago and are nowadays spread over the whole island.

White painted trees - why?

Except as decoration around terraces there are more reason why the trees are painted white.

Eucalyptus trees on the island of Crete

You can recognize eucalyptus trees by there hight and peeled off trunks. They originally come from Australia. They are the fastest growing subtropical trees.

To have a forest you need trees

In the past Crete used to be a large forest, but the wood was needed to built ships, palaces and houses.
Throughout the centuries a lot of trees were chopped to meet with the great demand for wood.

Olive oil lamp and its history

The oil gained from the many olives on the island was already an important economical product for the Minoans. It was not only used for consumption, like it is today, but it was also the source of all lighting.

The use of hot-houses on the island

The majority of the hot-houses on the island is used for the cultivation of tomatoes and cucumbers, about 80%.

The Cypress trees, now and in the Minoan age.

In the Minoan age the cypress trees were used in the construction of palaces. The pillars in the palace of Knossos used to be from wood from this tree. The trunks were put upside down, so the broader part supported the roof construction.

Sweet Soumada, a drink out of the Almond tree

Out of the bay of Mirabello, the bay east of Agios Nicolaos you’ll see a lot of almond-trees. Parts of the almond tree are used to create a syrup called ‘Soumada’.

Available route where you’ll drive through the Pine forerst of Prinas:
Route 59 nicknamed; Kalamafka

In the VoiceMap app you’ll find this route under the name:

Journey to Southernmost Crete: A Driving Tour from Agios Nikolaos to Ierapetra

Purchase in Routaki webshop

all kind of colourful plants and trees on Crete

Available Routaki routes:

Route 56 – ‘Lassithi’
A Drive along the Lassithi Plateau: From Stalida to Zeus’s Birthplace

City Walk Rethymnon
The Venetian harbor and old town of Rethymno

Route 38 – ‘Agia Galini’
Scenic Southern Crete: A Drive from Spili to Triopetra Beaches

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Vegetation; trees, plants & herbs

Index

Available Routaki routes:

Enjoy & Share & Pass on your experiences