Lasithi

Lasithi Regional Unit Περιφερειακή Ενότητα Λασιθίου (Λασίθι)
Basic data
State :	Greece
Region :	Crete
Area :	1,823 km²
Residents :	75,381 (2011)
Population density :	41.3 inhabitants / km²
NUTS 3 code no. :	EL433
Structure:	4 municipalities

The regional district Lasithi ( Greek Periferiaki Enotita Lasithiou ) is the easternmost of the four regional districts of the Greek region of Crete around the main town of Agios Nikolaos .

Regional districts of Crete and their administrative offices

Lasithi was established as a prefecture after Crete was annexed to Greece in 1915 . Until the local reform in Greece in 1997 ("Kapodistrias") it consisted of the provinces of Ierapetra, Lasithi, Mirabello and Sitia. These were replaced in 1997 by the municipalities ( Greek δήμοι Dimi ) Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia, Lefki, Makrigialos, Neapoli, Itanos and Oropedio Lasithiou ( "Lasithi Plateau") and, since 2006, the rural municipality ( Greek κοινότητα Kinotita ) Vrachasi . With the administrative reform in 2010 , the prefecture was abolished, its powers fell to the region of Crete and the newly formed four municipalities, whose areas correspond to those of the previous provinces. The Lasithi regional district sends six members to the Cretan regional council, but has no further political significance.

The total population in 2011 was 75,381. The largest cities are Agios Nikolaos with around 12,600 inhabitants, Ierapetra with around 16,100 inhabitants and Sitia with a good 9,900 inhabitants. The town of Sitia gave the prefecture its name during the Venetian period, the current name comes from the high plateau in the Dikti Mountains.

The main branches of economy are agriculture with greenhouse cultures around Ierapetra and extensive olive cultivation (near Sitia and Kavousi ) as well as tourism . The prefecture is the least touristically developed in Crete.

The Lasithi plateau is one of the most scenic regions on the island. According to Greek mythology , Zeus , the father of the gods , saw the light of day in the Dikti grotto on the southwestern edge of the plateau.

Parishes in the Lasithi Regional Unit as of 2011

local community	Population (2011)	Administrative headquarters
1 - Agios Nikolaos	27,074	Agios Nikolaos
2 - Ierapetra	26,200	Ierapetra
3 - Lasithi Plateau (Oropedio Lasithiou)	2,387	Tzermiado
4 - Sitia	19,720	Sitia

Attractions

Archaeological sites

Minoan Palace Kato Zakros

• Gournia (late Minoan city)
• Itanos ( Minoan / Doric port city)
• Kato Zakros (Minoan Palace)
• Toplou Monastery
• Mochlos (Minoan settlement)
• Palekastro (Minoan City)
• Vassiliki (Minoan village)

Museums

• Agios Nikolaos Archaeological Museum
• Sitia Archaeological Museum

Natural sites

Former Venetian windmills on the edge of the Lasithi plateau

Vai Palm Beach (Eastern Crete)

• Lasithi plateau
• Vai Palm Beach

Tourist centers

• Elounda (north coast)
• Ierapetra (south coast)

Other sights

• Spinalonga

Web links

Commons : Lasithi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Lasithi on the website of the Greek Ministry of Culture

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Results of the 2011 census at the National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
2. ↑ Law of April 1, 1915 on the administrative structure of the new countries of Greece (PDF; 661 kB; Greek)