Lévka Mountains

▪ mountains, Greece

Modern Greek  Lévka Óri,  also called  Madháres Óri,  

 highest and most precipitous massif in western Crete, located a few miles south of the Cretan capital, Khaniá (Canea), in the nomós (department) of Khaniá, Greece. The limestone peaks have been hollowed out by erosion into high plains such as the Omalós (1,650–3,300 ft [500–1,000 m]), which gives access from the village of Lákkoi to the Samaria gorge, 11 mi (18 km) long and 1,000 ft deep.

      Bearing a stream during the wet season, the Samaria provides the only route of transit to the south coast over the Lévka range. The massif is separated from Mt. Apopigádhi (4,367 ft) on the west by a depression carrying the road from Khaniá to Ayía Iríni; on the east it is defined by the depression carrying the road from Vrísai to Chóra Sfakíon. At least four of the Lévka peaks exceed 6,600 ft. The highest is Mt. Lévka at 8,045 ft (2,452 m). The major stream rising from the Lévka is the Plataniás, which flows past Lákkoi northwestward into the Kólpos (gulf) Khaníon. The region is believed to be the last habitat of the Cretan agrimi, a wild goat.

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