Английская Википедия:Ha Gorge
Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Infobox valley Шаблон:Coord Ha Gorge (Шаблон:Lang-el) is a narrow gorge, at the Monasteraki Dakos, on the eastern part of the island of Crete in Greece. It is located in the west slope of Thrypti mountain range,Шаблон:Sfn[1] and exits east of Vasiliki village in the plain of Ierapetra.[1] From this location scenic views overlook Pahia Amos and the bay.Шаблон:Sfn Being practically inaccessible to people, the gorge maintains a rich and diverse flora and fauna.[2] Its depth is about Шаблон:Convert and the fissure is said to be one of the largest in the world.Шаблон:Sfn Late Minoan IIIC sites are in the area.
Etymology
The name 'Ha Gorge' is derived from the Greek Cretan dialect hasko (Шаблон:Lang-el) meaning "separate" or "to gape".Шаблон:Sfn[3]
Location
The gorge is located on the north end of the Isthmus of Hierapetra.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Access to the geological fault is very difficult.Шаблон:Sfn The road approach to the gorge is Шаблон:Convert along the national highway from Iraklio to Agios Nikolaos and then the approach leads through Ierapetra and the village of Episkopi. From this village, a diversion road over a distance of Шаблон:Convert leads to the Thripti, a location of a church. From this location access to the gorge is only by walking.[4]
Features
The gorge has an elevation of Шаблон:Convert at the entrance where the width is about Шаблон:Convert.[2] It is about Шаблон:Convert long, particularly narrow at several points and has rocky walls rising up to Шаблон:Convert, in cascade form. The gorge splits "at right angles a fault-cliff which divides east Crete".Шаблон:Sfn The width of the gorge varies from Шаблон:Convert; at some locations it is as narrow as Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn[1] Its depth is about Шаблон:Convert and the fissure is said to be one of the largest in the world.Шаблон:Sfn It has a number of falls along its length out of which a fall of 250 m is the steepest.[2]
The geological formations created by this wide fault exposes the rock-beds and their folds which are identical on both banks of the gorge.Шаблон:Sfn Geologically it is interpreted as a "r Tectonics" active normal fault, known as the Ierapetra active fault with a northeast–southwest orientation.Шаблон:Sfn
The stream emerging from the gorge is diverted to drive two watermills.Шаблон:Sfn Abseiling is conducted in the vicinity; the gorge has 26 abseils of varying length from Шаблон:Convert.[1][4]
Archeological excavations
Archeological excavations in the vicinity of Ha gorge have revealed Late Neolithic-Final Neolithic (4000 BC -3000BC) occupation on the Monastiraki Katalimata, which is precariously located at the edge of Ha Gorge.Шаблон:Sfn Monasteraki Halasmenos is nearby.Шаблон:Sfn Halasmenos, a Late Minoan IIIC site, lies on a hill near the end of the gorge's mouth, and with Kavousi and Vasiliki-Kephala, it forms a triad of important sites from this period.Шаблон:Sfn A number of ruins and artifacts have been unearthed on the northern bank of the Ha gorge, with some of the ruins perched on the individual narrow rock shelves near vertical face of the cliff. Apart from archaeologists, a few adventure seeking rock climbers are seen in the area, which otherwise is almost inaccessible.Шаблон:Sfn
Wildlife
Smyrnium, a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, the umbellifers found in Crete is also found in the inaccessible Ha gorge; there are three species of this plant.Шаблон:Sfn The gorge is home to many migratory and endemic birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.[3]
References
Bibliography
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External links
