Geography and Climate

Location: Gavdos is an isolated isle on the Levantine Basin of the Mediterranean Sea situated 24 nautical miles to the south of Crete. Its characteristic shape of the isosceles triangle with an area of almost 37 km² is one of the mysterious features of this isle. The island is the southernmost part of Greece. Cap Tripiti (N34°48'07" E24°07'35") is also the southernmost tip of the European continent.

Characteristics of the island: Aspes, the steep, rocky, hardly accessible but extremely picturesque western coast of the island, stretches for about 10 km. The width of this virgin isle ranges from 1 km in the south to 5-7.5 km in its northern part. The northern coast of the island mainly abounds in large, sandy beaches (the Sarakiniko, Ag. Ioannis, Potamos Beaches ) with a variety of colors, shades and structure of the sand whereas the eastern coast offers several smaller beaches such as the Korfos Beach with coarse sand and shingle. In the north-eastern part of the isle, near Ampelos, there is the highest point of the island reaching 368 m above sea level. In this part of the island there is a restored lighthouse of Faros built by a French company in 1880. At that time it was ..... MORE...

The climate of Gavdos: Mediterranean, subtropical, dry and windy, slightly different from the climate of the other part of Greece. The isle is exposed to the sun for almost 330 days a year and the temperatures are often above 40°C in the summer. Although Gavdos has very few rains, the isle is quite green.

AVERAGE temperature on gavdos

Fauna and flora: Flora on Gaudos and Gavdopouli is unique and exceptional because of the occurrence of some African and European species of plants.
You can also come across various birds of passage who "treat" this isle as a stopover during their long flight across the open sea between Africa and Europe resting in large flocks in ancient juniper and cedar forests and among aromatic thyme and oregano shrubs which are an important element of the local landscape. Here is the place where studies and observations of these 'cloud-kissing' travelers are conducted by the Natural History Museum of Crete of the University of Crete in Heraklion. For more than 50 species of birds the most convenient places to rest on Gavdos are Kastri, Ampelos and Metochi with their arable land. The spring in Gavdos is perfectly suitable for all bird lovers and ornithologists. For detailed information about the variety of birds visiting Gavdos and living on this isle click here: www.gavdos-online.com

Monk seals in danger of extinction bask in the sun in virgin and calm small bays. Under the sheet of water you can see Posidonia (Neptune's grass) whose dead remains play the same function as the coral reef in tropical regions. The depths surrounding Gavdos are vibrant with activity - sea turtles, dolphins and the largest of the surviving whales - cachalot (Physeter catodon) often named Potwal. These species are .... MORE...