Heraklion Prefecture

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it.
Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (January 2007)

Heraklion Prefecture Νομός Ηρακλείου

Periphery	Crete
Capital	Heraklion
Population	302,846 (2005)Ranked 6th
Area	2,641 km² Ranked 19th
Population density	114.7/km²Ranked 7th
Number of provinces	7
Number of municipalities	26
Postal codes	70x xx - 71x xx
Area codes	2810, 289x0
Licence plate code	HK, HP
ISO 3166-2 code	GR-91
Website	www.nah.gr

Heraklion (Greek Ηράκλειο - Irákleio or Iráklio), also Heraklio is a prefecture of Greece, one of the four prefectures of Crete. The capital is the city of Heraklion.

1 Geography
2 Ancient history
3 Population history
4 Climate
5 Ancient cities
6 Municipalities
7 Transport
8 Noted inhabitants
9 Communications
10 See also
11 Line notes
12 References
13 External links

[edit] Geography

The prefecture of Heraklion is bounded with the prefectures of Rethymno to the west and Lasithi or Lassithi to the east. The valley of farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts and within the coastline and valleys. The mountains dominate the rest of the prefecture including the south. The main mountains are parts of Ida or Idi Mountains to the west and Asterousia in the south. The prefecture includes the island of Dia to the north.

[edit] Ancient history

Within the Heraklion Prefecture's boundaries are a number of significant Neolithic and Minoan settlements, most notably the ancient palace complexes of Knossos and Phaistos.^[1]^[2]^[3] While both archaeological sites evince Neolithic habitation, it is the rich finds of Minoan civilisation, which flourished approximately 2000 to 1600 BC, that command the greatest scholarly attention.

[edit] Population history

1991 - 263,868, density: 99.91/km²
2001 - 292,482, density: 110.75/km²

[edit] Climate

Except for the mountains which receives mild to cool winters unlike northern Greece, the warm to hot Mediterranean climate dominates the prefecture.

[edit] Ancient cities

[edit] Municipalities

Municipality	YPES code	Seat (if different)	Postal code	Area code
Agia Varvara	1901		700 03	28940-2
Archanes	1903		701 00	2810-3, 7
Arkalochori	1902		703 00	28910-2
Asterousia	1904	Pyrgos	700 10	28920-2
Chersonissos	1926	Limenas Chersonisou	700 14	28970-2
Episkopi	1910		700 10	2810-77
Gazi	1906		714 14	2810-82
Gorgolainis	1907	Agios Myronas	700 12	2810-72
Gortyna	1908	Agioi Deka	700 12	28930
Gouves	1909		700 14	28970-4
Heraklion	1912		710 xx-720 xx	2810
Kasteli	1914		700 03	28910-3
Kofinas	1915	Asimi	700 10	28930
Krousonas	1916		700 01	2810-71
Malia	1917		700 07	28970-3
Moires	1918		704 00	28920-2
Nea Alikarnassos	1919		716 xx	2810
Nikos Kazantzakis	1920	Peza	701 00	2810-74
Paliani	1923	Venerato	700 11	2810-79
Rouvas	1921	Gergeri	700 03	2890-4
Temenos	1922	Profitis Ilias	715 00	2810-89
Thrapsano	1913		700 06	28910-4
Tylisos	1924		715 00	2810-83
Tympaki	1925		702 00	28920-5
Viannos	1905	Ano Viannos	700 04	28950-2
Zaros	1911		700 02	28940-3

[edit] Transport

GR-90/E65
GR-97
GR-99

[edit] Noted inhabitants

El Greco (medieval Castilian nickname meaning "the Greek"), by which Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος Domênikos Theotokópoulos, is best known. (Born 1541, Fodele, Heraklion and died in April 7, 1614, Toledo, Spain), a world-famous painter, sculptor and architect
Nikos Kazantzakis was born in a village which at that time was called Varvaroi. (Today its name is Mirtia.) The municipality which Mirtia is a part of is named after him, and its seat is Peza.