At 160 miles (257 km) in length, and nearly 40 miles (65 km) at its widest, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands. Located in the eastern Mediterranean, it sits between the Cretan sea to the north and the Libyan sea to the south.

The islands that later merged to form Crete broke away from mainland Europe about 10 million years ago, and Crete began to take on its current form about 4 million years ago. It is a mountainous land, with ranges across the length of the island separated by plateaux and valleys.

In eastern Crete, the Ierapetra isthmus is a low valley between the Dikti and Thripti mountains and, at 7 miles (12 km), the narrowest part of the island where, in places, it is possible to see both north and south coasts from the same location. The Dikti mountains are the location of the Lasithi Plateau - the most impressive on the island and reputedly, in the Dikteon cave, the birthplace of Zeus.

The first human habitation in Crete, including evidence of activity on the Lasithi Plateau, has been dated to around 6000 B.C., and the island became the cradle of European civilisation when the Minoans flourished between 2600-1450 B.C.

The largest Minoan settlement is the Palace of Minos at Knossos, near Herklion, but the civilisation spread the length of the island. In eastern Crete, excavations have uncovered a palatial complex at Kato Zakros and the Minoan town of Gournia, as well as numerous smaller Minoan sites.

Following the collapse of the Minoan civilisation, Crete was inhabited by Eteocretans ('true cretans'), with their power-base at Praisos in east Crete, and was also settled by Mycenaeans, and subsequently Dorians, from mainland Greece. Crete became part of the Roman empire following an invasion in 69 B.C., and when the Roman empire split into eastern and western empires during the 4th century A.D., Crete became part of the eastern, Byzantine, empire.

In 824 A.D. the island was conquered by Arab forces from Spain, but was returned to Byzantine control in 961. Following the 4th crusade in 1204 the Venetians took control of Crete. In 1669 Turkish forces of the Ottoman empire invaded, eventually establishing full control of the island when the fortress at Spinalonga, in north-east Crete, fell in 1718.

Although Greece became an independent state free of Ottoman rule in 1832, Crete remained part of the Ottoman empire until, following an insurrection, it became in 1898 an autonomous state, free of Ottoman control but outside of Greece. Ten years later Crete declared itself to be part of Greece, and in 1913 it was finally internationally recognised as such.

Politically, the island is divided into four prefectures, the eastern-most and least populated being Lasithi. The capital of Lasithi is Agios Nikolaos on the north coast, and other major towns are Sitia, also on the north coast, and Ierapetra, Europe's most southerly town, on the south coast. The main industries in Crete are agriculture and tourism, though the latter is less developed in the eastern part of the island.

Crete generally enjoys a Mediterranean climate, giving it short mild winters and long hot summers. Winter is the wet season, and the last rains will generally fall in mid-May, not starting again until mid-September. Snow is rare on the coastal lowlands, but often settles on the mountain tops during winter.

Temperatures start rising in April-May, reaching on average the high 30's centigrade (100 farenheit) during the hottest months of July and August. Crete enjoys around 300 days of sunshine per year, and summer-like days can be experienced into December and even January.

The southern coast of Crete falls within the North African climatic zone. This can translate into slightly higher averages for temperatures and days of sunshine than the rest of Crete, with the added advantage that the mountains often dampen the sometimes fierce northerly 'meltemi' winds that blow during the summer.