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19-517: The municipality Platanias was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units: The municipality has an area of 491.78 km (189.88 sq mi), the municipal unit 74.93 km (28.93 sq mi). It lies within the Chania regional unit and is numbered 6 on the map of the Chania region. It is on the north coast, forming

38-538: A general rule, according to which the newly formed Prefectural Self-Governments had all the duties of the previous prefectures, which are related to their local affairs. Nonetheless, the affairs of "(central) state administration" belonging to the prefects before 1994 are now exerted by the Presidents of the Regions (περιφερειάρχης). The Prefectural Self-Governments kept the "local affairs of prefectureal level" not belonging to

57-638: A number of communities and municipalities . The prefectures became self-governing entities in 1994, when the first prefectural-level elections took place. The prefects were previously appointed by the government. By 2010, their number had risen to 51, of which one, the Attica Prefecture , where more than a third of the country's population resided, was further subdivided into four prefecture-level administrations (νομαρχίες, sing. νομαρχία). In addition, there were three super-prefectures (υπερνομαρχίες, sing. υπερνομαρχία) controlling two or more prefectures. With

76-625: A tourist attraction and a refuge for the rare Cretan wild goat or kri-kri , is in the South of the regional unit. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori , through which the Samaria, Aradena, Imbros and other gorges run, are the limestone peaks topped by snow until May that occupy much of Chania regional unit. They contain more than 40 peaks over 2,000 meters high. The highest peak in this area is Mt Pachnes, at 2,453 meters above sea level (Crete’s second highest peak). Other prominent peaks are Mt Agkathes (1,511 m) in

95-573: Is one of the four regional units of Crete ; it covers the westernmost quarter of the island. Its capital is the city of Chania . Chania borders only one other regional unit: that of Rethymno to the east. The western part of Crete is bounded to the north by the Cretan Sea (part of the Aegean Sea ) and to the west and south by the Mediterranean Sea and Libyan Sea . The regional unit also includes

114-405: Is popular with tourists for its spring flowers that linger on into early May in the mountains. Birdwatching is also common, with the lammergeier and golden eagle especially sought for. As an island, Crete has many endemic species of plant and animal. Crete's only freshwater lake, Lake Kournas , is in the regional unit close to the border with Rethymno regional unit, 47 km from Chania. It

133-399: Is relatively large, with a perimeter of 3.5 km. The lake used to be called 'Korisia' after ancient 'Korion', a city thought to be in the area with a temple to Athena . The lake used to be reportedly full of eels but now is better known for its terrapins and tourists. Tavernas and bicycle rental shops line part of the shore. There are numerous rivers in the Chania region most flowing from

152-419: Is subdivided into seven municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): The Chania prefecture ( Greek : Νομός Χανίων ) was created while Crete was still an autonomous state , and was preserved after the island joined Greece in 1913. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the Chania regional unit was created out of the former prefecture. The prefecture had the same territory as

171-571: The "(central) state administration". With certain laws specific affairs of certain ministries were transferred to the Prefectural Self-Governments (sanitary committees, urban-planning services etc.). The following prefectures have been part of the Greek state since independence: Notes: There were several short-lived prefectures in areas of present Albania and Turkey , during the Greek occupation of those areas during World War I and

190-496: The Kallikratis reform, which entered into force on 1 January 2011, the prefectures were abolished. Many, especially in the mainland, were retained in the form of regional units (περιφερειακές ενότητες) within the empowered regions, which largely took over the prefectures' administrative role. The "Prefectural Self-Governments" were formed in 1994 and replaced the previous prefectures, whose councils and prefects were appointed by

209-605: The White Mountains to the north coast. These include, from west to east, the Tavronitis, Keritis (Iardanos), Kladissos, Koiliaris, Almiros, Delfinos and Mouselas rivers. Chania is the regional unit of Crete that receives the most precipitation. The Exkursionsflora von Kreta by Jahn & Schoenfelder has a precipitation map and text confirming that in general, western Crete (Chania prefecture) has more precipitation than any other region on an average basis. The regional unit Chania

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228-403: The combination winning a majority and two-fifths of the seats going to remaining parties based on a proportional system. Prefect became the president of the victorious electoral combination. Victorious is a combination which attains more than 42% in the first round of the prefectural elections. If no combination passes this threshold, a second round takes place between the two combinations that took

247-548: The country's main administrative unit. They are now defunct, and have been approximately replaced by regional units . They are called departments in ISO 3166-2:GR and by the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names . The prefectures were the second-degree organization of local government, grouped into 13 regions or (before 1987) 10 geographical departments , and in turn divided into provinces and comprising

266-413: The eastern Lefka Ori, and Mt Agios Dikaios (1,182 m) in the far west. The regional unit also includes three headlands , known as the "three heads" of Crete. From west to east, they are: Gramvousa peninsula (with a peak of 762 m), Rodopos peninsula, also known as Spatha (with a peak of 749 m), and Akrotiri (with a peak of 523 m). The Apokoronas region also has a prominent peak (527 m). Western Crete

285-576: The eastern shore of Kissamos Bay (Kolpos Kissamou Kόλπος Κισσάμου ), and the west and south shores of Chania Bay (Kolpos Chanion Κόλπος Χανίων). It is bordered by Kissamos (5) to the west, Kantanos-Selino (4) to the south, Chania (1) to the east, and Sfakia (7) in the southeast. Its northeast region is the Rodopos Peninsula (Chersonisos Rodopou Χερσόνησος Ροδωπού ). See Chania Region for maps Chania (regional unit) Chania ( Greek : Περιφερειακή ενότητα Χανίων ), also spelled Hania ,

304-483: The government. Prefectures were governed by a Prefectural Council (νομαρχιακό συμβούλιο) made up of 21 to 37 members, led by the Prefect (νομάρχης) and presided by a Council President (πρόεδρος). Other organs of the prefectures were: Super-prefectures had their own organs (Council, Committee and Super-prefect). Prefectural councillors were elected via public election every four years. Three-fifths of all seats went to

323-531: The most votes in the first round. The State ultimately oversaw the actions of local governments, including the prefectures, but the Constitution of Greece and the Code of Prefectural Self-Government still provided communities and municipalities with legal control over the administration of their designated areas. The Code of Prefectural Self-Government did not include a non-restrictive list of prefectural duties, but

342-491: The present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below. The provinces were: Prefectures of Greece During the first administrative division of independent Greece in 1833–1836 and again from 1845 until their abolition with the Kallikratis reform in 2010, the prefectures ( Greek : νομοί, sing. νομός , romanized :  nomoi, sing. nomós ) were

361-477: The southernmost island of Europe, Gavdos . Chania regional unit, often informally termed 'Western Crete', is a part of the island which includes the capital Chania , and the districts of Platanias and Apokoronas in the north, and Sfakia and Selino in the far south west corner. Other towns in the Chania prefecture include Hora Sfakion , Kissamos , Palaiochora , Maleme , Vryses , Vamos , Georgioupolis and Kalives . The natural park of Samariá Gorge ,

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