Lasithi Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λασιθίου | |
|---|---|
 Municipalities of Lasithi | |
 Lasithi within Greece | |
  Lasithi | |
| Coordinates:35°05′N25°50′E / 35.083°N 25.833°E /35.083; 25.833 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Crete |
| Seat | Agios Nikolaos |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,823 km2 (704 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 77,819 |
| • Density | 42.69/km2 (110.6/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 72x xx |
| Area code | 284x0 |
| Vehicle registration | ΑΝ |
| Website | www |
Lasithi (Greek:Λασίθι) is the easternmostregional unit on the island ofCrete, to the east ofHeraklion. Its capital isAgios Nikolaos, the other major towns beingIerapetra andSitia. The mountains include theDikti in the west (reaching 2,148 metres) and theThrypti in the east (reaching 1,476 metres). TheSea of Crete lies to the north and theLibyan Sea to the south.
To the east of the village ofElounda lies the island ofSpinalonga, formerly aVenetian fortress and aleper colony. On the foot of Mount Dikti lies theLasithi Plateau, famous for itswindmills.Vai is well known for itsdatepalm forest.
Thanks to its beaches and its mild climate year-long, Lasithi attracts many tourists. Mass tourism is served by places like Vai, Agios Nikolaos and the island ofChrysi. More off-beat tourism can be found in villages on the south coast likeMyrtos, Makrys Gialos or Makrigialos, Xerokambos andKoutsouras.
Lasithi is home to a number of ancient remains.Vasiliki,Fournou Korifi,Pyrgos,Zakros andGournia are ruins ofMinoan date,Lato andItanos were Doric towns.
The history of Lasithi can be traced over at least three millennia.[2] The region has considerable ancient history antecedents, including theDorian era settlement ofOlous andLato.[3]
It has been speculated thatra-su-to, found inLinear B, corresponds to an unattested ancientLasynthos.[4] There is also aLyttian tribal nameLasynthioi, presumably reflecting the same name.[5]
Earlier proposals that it is derived from a Venetian 'la' preposed to derivatives ofLyttos (Lyttus >Tselyttus[6] >Tselethe >Xeethe >La Xeethi >Lasithi)[7] orSitia (Sitia >La Sitia >Lasithi) are unlikely, as the name Lasithi was attested as early as 1211, whereas the Venetians only firstarrived in Crete in 1205.[8] Another unlikely etymology derives it fromlakkos 'hole or basin' (Lakkos >Lakkidion >Latsidi >Lasidi >Lasithi).[8]
The area was known asLaşid (Ottoman Turkish:الشيد) underTurkish rule.[9]
The regional unit Lasithi is subdivided into four municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[10]
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Lasithi was created out of the formerprefecture of Lasithi (Greek:Νομός Λασιθίου), which was created while Crete was still anautonomous state and was retained after the island joined Greece in 1913. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit, except Viannos area that belonged to Lasithi but was annexed to Heraklion prefecture in 1932. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[10]
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Agios Nikolaos | Agios Nikolaos | Agios Nikolaos |
| Vrachasi | ||
| Neapoli | ||
| Ierapetra | Ierapetra | Ierapetra |
| Makry Gialos | ||
| Oropedio Lasithiou | Oropedio Lasithiou | Tzermiado |
| Siteia | Siteia | Siteia |
| Itanos | ||
| Lefki |
Before 2006, Lasithi was divided into 4provinces:
Administrative division of theCrete Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofChania |  | |
| Regional unit ofHeraklion | ||
| Regional unit ofLasithi | ||
| Regional unit ofRethymno | ||
| ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
