Canyon of the Dead
The gorge of the dead ( Greek Φαράγγι Νεκρών Farangi Nekron ), also the gorge of Zakros (Φαράγγι Ζάκρου Farangi Zakrou ), is located below the place Zakros , west of the Minoan palace near Kato Zakros in eastern Crete . The steep-walled gorge is about eight kilometers long and can carry water in some places. A hiking trail through the gorge is marked and accessible all year round.
Carbonate rocks predominate in the valley .
The gorge is called "Valley of the Dead" because the Minoans buried their dead in the numerous caves on the side walls. Only one grave was found intact; it contained the corpses of five women from the time between 2300 and 2100 BC. All the others were robbed. At the end of the gorge is the Minoan palace Kato Zakros.
Web links
- Hiking through the Valley of the Dead (Nekron Canyon) (PDF; 366 kB)
Coordinates: 35 ° 6 ′ 0 ″ N , 26 ° 14 ′ 24 ″ E