Lasithi Περιφερειακή ενότητα Λασιθίου
—  Regional unit  —
Municipalities of Lasithi
Lasithi within Greece
Coordinates: 35°05′N 25°50′E / 35.083°N 25.833°E / 35.083; 25.833Coordinates: 35°05′N 25°50′E / 35.083°N 25.833°E / 35.083; 25.833
Country	Greece
Region	Crete
Capital	Agios Nikolaos
Area
• Total	1,823 km2 (704 sq mi)
Population (2005)
• Total	77,917
• Density	43/km2 (110/sq mi)
Postal codes	72x xx
Area codes	284x0
ISO 3166 code	GR-92
Car plates	ΑΝ
Website	www.lassithi.gr

Lasithi (Greek: Λασίθι) is the easternmost regional unit on the island of Crete, to the east of Heraklion. Its capital is Agios Nikolaos, the other major towns being Ierapetra, Sitia and Neapoli. The mountains include the Dikte to the west and the Sitia Mountains to the east. The Sea of Crete lies to the north and the Libyan Sea to the south.

To the east of the village of Elounda lies the island of Spinalonga, formerly a Venetian fortress and a leper colony. On the foot of Mount Dikti lies the Lasithi Plateau, famous for its windmills. Vai is well known for its datepalm forest.

Thanks to stunning beaches and its mild climate year-long, Lasithi attracts many tourists. Mass tourism is served by places like Vai, Agios Nikolaos and the island of Chrissi. More off-beat tourism can be found in villages on the south coast like Myrtos, Makrys Gialos or Makrigialos, Xerokambos and Koutsouras.

Lasithi is home to a number of ancient remains. Vasiliki, Fournou Korifi, Pyrgos, Zakros and Gournia are ruins of Minoan date, Lato and Itanos were Doric towns.

History[link]

The history of Lasithi can be traced over at least three millennia.^[1] The region has considerable ancient history antecedents, including the Dorian era settlement of Olous and Lato.^[2]

Administration[link]

The regional unit Lasithi is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):^[3]

• Agios Nikolaos (1)
• Ierapetra (2)
• Oropedio Lasithiou (3)
• Siteia (4)

Prefecture[link]

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Lasithi was created out of the former prefecture of Lasithi (Greek: Νομός Λασιθίου), which was created while Crete was still an autonomous state and was retained after the island joined Greece in 1913. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit, except Viannos area that belonged to Lasithi but was annexed to Heraklion perfecture in 1932. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.^[3]

Provinces[link]

Before 2006, Lasithi was divided into 4 provinces:

• Province of Mirambelos - Neapolis
• Province of Lasithi - Tzermiado
• Province of Ierapetra - Ierapetra
• Province of Sitia - Sitia

Transport[link]

• GR-90/E65, NW, Cen., E, NE
• GR-99, Cen., S

See also[link]

• Ieropotamos River

References[link]

External links[link]

• Geographical profile of Lasithi

v t e Administrative division of the Crete Region Area: 8,336km² • Population : 601,131 (2001) • Capital: Heraklion Regional unit of Chania Apokoronas • Chania • Gavdos • Kantanos-Selino • Kissamos • Platanias • Sfakia Regional unit of Heraklion Archanes-Asterousia • Faistos • Gortyna • Heraklion • Hersonissos • Malevizi • Minoa Pediada • Viannos Regional unit of Lasithi Agios Nikolaos • Ierapetra • Oropedio Lasithiou • Siteia Regional unit of Rethymno Agios Vasileios • Amari • Anogeia • Mylopotamos • Rethymno Regional governor: Stavros Arnaoutakis • Website www.pkr.gov.gr