TheSea of Crete (Greek:Κρητικό Πέλαγος,Kritiko Pelagos), orCretan Sea, is asea, part of theAegean Sea, located in its southern extremity, with a total surface area of 45,000 km2 (17,000 sq mi). The sea stretches to the north of the island ofCrete, east of the islands ofKythera andAntikythera, south of theCyclades, and west of theDodecanese islands ofRhodes,Karpathos andKassos. The bounding sea to the west is theIonian Sea. To the northwest is theMyrtoan Sea, a subdivision of theMediterranean Sea that lies between theCyclades andPeloponnese. To the east-southeast is the rest of theMediterranean Sea, sometimes credited as theLevantine Sea. Across the island ofCrete, to the opposite shore of it begins theLibyan Sea. Ferry routes to and fromPiraeus andHeraklion, as well as the southern islands of the Aegean and the Dodecanese, run in this area.
Just off the coastline of Northeastern Crete, the sea reaches a maximum depth of near 3,293 m (10,000 ft).[citation needed] Other sources (maps) show a maximum depth of 2,591 m (8,500 ft).
Saundry, Peter; Hogan, C. Michael; Baum, Steve (2011)."Sea of Crete". In Pidwirny, M.; Cleveland, C. J. (eds.).Encyclopedia of Earth. Washington DC: National Council for Science and Environment.
