Topolia – Elos – Agios Dikaios

Dimitris Tsatsaronis – Balantis Kotoulas
Dimitris Karazepounis – Michalis Karapatakis

The whole region is in West Crete and is mainly a mountainous area. It covers an area of 5700 ha starting from Topolia village (45 km from the city of Chania) and ending to Mt Agios Dikaios(1008m). On the west side it borders with Mt Koutroulis(1071m) and the peak of Mt. Psilo Kefali (901m), while Sasalos and Milonou settlements are the eastern border. It includes Topolia Gorge with Tiflos River and the renowned cave of St. Sophia. Two km north from Topolia, just after the Gorge you can find the small cave of St. Sophia. It is laid in an altitude of 290m, oriented to the east, while its entrance is 16,50m wide. Its curvature is 50m long and 50m wide and its height is 50m tall. Five arrays of stalagmites in green, orange and white hues impress the visitor. These formations of stalagmites have been named after Bear, Giants, dwarfs and others due to their vivid shapes. At the entrance of the cave dominate the small church of St. Sophia and Prophet John. According to local tradition, during the “icon dispute” era (Byzantium) a miraculous icon, drawn in Konstantinoupolis, was kept in here. Others claim that this icon came suddenly into sight to a peasant while he was digging his field and showed towards the cave where he should build the small country church. In 1954, 1955 and 1957 shells from the Neolithic, classical and roman era were unearthed. In 1963 an earthen image dated from the late 4th century B.C. was unearthed. The homonymous gorge of Topolia has a length of 3km, with a normal pathway and many small caves. The maximum altitude of the cliffs is 700m. and the narrowest spot is 30m wide. Generally the region is one of the few green areas of Chania Perfecture with impressive wild chestnut trees and evergreen plane trees. Agiow Dikaios is a very significant shelter for many endangered birds of prey. The whole region has been integrated into the European network “natura 200” as a significant, under protection biotope.