Municipality of Malevizi
Geographical position:
Gazi, the centre of the Municipality of Malevizi, is part of the Prefecture of Heraklion and is one of its seven provinces. It is located at the northwest border of Heraklion with the Prefecture of Rethimnon and accounts for το 4,5% of the total area of Crete.
Population:
It is one of the most dynamically developing settlements of the Prefecture of Heraklion. According to the result of the last census of the Municipality of Heraklion its total population is about 25000 residents.
Economic activity:
The tertiary sector takes up 60, 2% of the employment, the secondary 26,8 and the primary 12,9. Hotel workers usually work in farming in winter.
Monuments:
The Municipality of Malevizi is of great archaeological interest because of Minoan and Roman archeological discoveries. These finds show that organized settlement has existed since the Minoan times, with ruins of buildings and cemeteries.
Characteristics of the beach
The beach of TUI Magic Life Candia Maris hotel is inside the Municipality of Malevizi, at the area of Amudara. The beach is large and sandy, as implied by its name, with fine brown sand, and it extends in front of the settlement of Amudara. It is a very important tourist resort at the open bay of Heraklion.
The access to the hotel and the beach is quite easy as the hotel is inside the settlement of Amudara. So there is access by bicycle, on foot, by bus, motorbike and of course by car.
In the surrounding area there are no forests, industries and big agricultural areas, apart from some small areas with gardens and few olive trees. The land shows little inclinations towards the beach.
The distance of the beach:
– From International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis of Heraklion is about 8 Km
– From the Port of Heraklion 5 Km
– From the Historical Centre of Heraklion (Lions Square) 3 Km
Beach Regulation
General matters:
The opening hours of the beach are from 10:00 to 18:00.
If you have any questions ask the beach staff
For any complaints complete the special form at the entrance
To help us increase the quality of the services provided please complete the relevant questionnaire which you can find at the reception or in our website www.costanostrum.org or by downloading the relevant application Costa Nostrum.
The ashtrays, the beach chairs and the umbrellas are property of the TUI Magic Life Candia Maris Hotel.
Only the guests – owners of valuable objects that may be lost, are responsible for the loss.
Hygiene and Safety, Environmental Protection and Cleanliness of the Beach
You should always follow the advice of the lifeguards.
Swim parallel to the coastline and if possible never alone.
It is prohibited to block the lifeguard’s corridor and the range of vision of the lifeguard.
The consumption of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
It is prohibited to throw cigarettes into the sea or on the beach.
It is prohibited to throw glass objects or packaging on the beach or into the sea.
It is prohibited to throw any object on the beach or into the sea.
It is prohibited to light a fire.
It is prohibited to use shampoo at the showers.
It is prohibited to use music devices that produce loud noise.
All your rubbish should be placed with your own responsibility into the special waste containers.
It is prohibited to destroy any kind of vegetation.
It is prohibited to walk in areas where swimmers are not allowed to enter, according to the existing prohibition signs.
It is prohibited to stay on the lifeguard’s tower without a relevant permission.
The beach staff has the right to remove from the beach persons who are in a drunken condition or under the influence of drugs or behave violently/improperly to other visitors.
It is prohibited to take sand.
Pets should be tied, wearing a muzzle and their owners should have the relevant veterinary certificates. Free circulation of pets on the beach is strictly prohibited. If the dog annoys or the owner receives any remark, it should be immediately removed.
The “Myth” of the Beach
One of the best known stories of the wider area goes that the reef in front of the hotel at the whole coastline of Amudara, was created by humans as a barrier to prevent the enemy forces in World War II from gaining access from the sea.
Marine:
The coastal zone of Amudara has shallow protected waters with a soft and sandy seabed. In a distance of 50 meters from the coast there is a large reef which has been formed naturally from psammitic rocks.
Three rivers flow to Amudara and fresh water flows to the sea underground. Chemical reactions between the fresh water and the sea water cause the transformation of the sand into solid rock. At the reef, the swimmer can discover small secrets. Small fish roam around looking for food in the weeds that grow on the reef. Larger fish, like the dusky spinefoot and the salpa salpa form schools and swim slowly. The sea-urchins, tightly clinging, walk slowly and scratch the rock while eating small seaweeds. Small crabs walk in the crevices of the rocks. Even if they are not too small, they are afraid of human beings and as soon as they see one, they disappear. With the use of a mask, a snorkel and a pair of flippers, a small torch and a special underwater camera, the visitor can take pictures of the life of the reef. You can start at the shallow waters and look at the little soles and striped sea breams searching for food in the sand.
Then, you will reach the reef. At first you will be impressed and curious to discover its secrets. Swimming slowly and watching carefully, you will see a lot of life. When you arrive at the end of it, you will see something unique. An underwater landscape formed by the rage of the wind. Large crevices await you to find their secrets with the help of the torch. Sponges cover the rocky surfaces and little blackfish roam far away from curious eyes. At those positions the depth I no more than 5 meters.
Land:
The sand dunes are the result of the activity of the sea and the wind. They are dynamic and sensitive ecosystems that host a lot of plants and animals. They are of great ecological importance because of their plantation, which plays a central role in their creation and conservation, as this sustains the sand and protects the coastline and the soil from the corosion from the sea and the wind, like a natural dam (sea water and salinity of the water horizon, force of the winds) for the land.
Moreover, sand dune systems are fragile and sensitive ecosystems, adapted to the changes caused naturally (wind, waves) and, regardless of the sand deposits (area, width, height), they play an important role in the hydrology of the wider area because of their storing capacity, regarding the underground waters they store in their mass. The organisms that live in these ecosystems are adapted to life in an unfriendly environment of sand dunes, without fresh water and high salinity of the air. The sand dunes also protect the soil internally from sea corrosion. In the sand dunes there are primitive plants, near the waves and first in the line of the sand dunes, adapted to this dry and unfriendly environment by developing special characteristic like small size, light green colours and strong root systems, hard leaves and hairy leaves. Then there are sand species, which are plants necessary for the stabilisation of the new sand dunes, thanks to their strong and extended root system. So they protect the soil for colonization with other species like the water lily (Pancratium maritimum). This plant is characteristic of the sand dunes and when it blossoms the beaches are extraordinarily beautiful. It produces onions in a large depth and thick groups on the beach.
Calculation of carrying capacity of a Beach
For the term “carrying capacity” there is a large number of definitions in international literature. However, all these definitions involve two central opinions: Firstly, the biophysical element related to the maintenance of the integrity of the natural resource, in this case, the beach. So, there is a maximum limit which must not be exceeded or else the natural ecosystem will suffer strong pressures. And, secondly, behavioral element which reflects the ability of the leisure experience.
Although until today there has not been a widely accepted definition or a commonly accepted procedure for the calculation of the load-bearing capacity of the beach, the calculation of the carrying capacity of each beach is done with the combination of different procedures found in international literature, the main goal being the best protection and conservation of the natural resource and the environment.
For the calculation of the carrying capacity of this beach, the following data – information were considered;
Calculation practices of the carrying capacity of the beach, mentioned in international literature.
Legislation in force.
Geographical position of the beach.
Existence of endangered species inside the coastal zone.
Fauna and Flora of the area.
Environmental stress of the beach.
The best service of the guests – swimmers of the beach.
The protection of the environment and the preservation of the natural resources of the beach.
Existence of protection rules for the safety and easy access of the guests to the beach.
Existence of stable infrastructures and the prospect of placing new infrastructures like WC.
The number of umbrellas that the hotel gives to its guests is 90 umbrellas, that is, 180 beach chairs which corresponds to 180 swimmers. This number is much smaller than the capacity of the beach.
Sustainable Waste Management
The main goal of the suggested management plan aims at the optimal sustainable management of the waste produced by visitors of the beach during their stay in the coastal zone.
The administrators of each beach must place appropriate bin for recycling where possible and to cover the needs of the beach at the same time.
It is suggested that in every beach – whether it is organized or not and taking into account the number of visitors – there are at least blue bins for the recycling of packaging , brown bins (compost bins) for the recycling of organic waste and green bins for mixed waste.
An important issue that the administrators have to deal with, whether they are public or private, is the collection of the cigarette ends which are thrown by the swimmers on the beach. It is suggested that there are ashtrays next to each chair which will be cleaned by the beach staff, after the guests leave the beach. This waste should not be thrown in the bin with the mixed rubbish because they can cause fire. They should be put in a special metal bucket, soaked with water and then thrown into the common bins, as no management plan for this kind of waste has been found until now.
At the point where the bins are placed there should be explanatory signs in more languages and the waste should be carried to the recycling centers regularly.
Moreover is should be mentioned that the seaweeds washed out at the beach are not beautiful but there is a processing method by a Greek company producing compost from seaweeds, http://www.compost.gr/#!unique-method-gr/co9t .
In general, it is suggested the following bins are placed:
At least 1 Green bin for mixed rubbish
At least 1 Blue bin for recyclable package materials
At least 1 Brown bin for organic waste
At least 1 Metal bucket for cigarettes from the ashtrays placed under the umbrellas
Clay ashtray at each beach chair set.
1 butterfly net so that the staff can collect rubbish from the beach without bending.
One-use gloves in case the worker has to collect rubbish with the hands.
All the bins should always be closed and the administrator of the beach is responsible to make sure the bins are closed.
Measures for the Protection of Endangered Species
If the nest is in danger beacause of the pedestrians or the vehicles, surround it with a “fence” you can make from wooden sticks placed around it and tied with some rope.
CAREFUL: Do not dig the nest. If there are stones or other things that may prevent the baby turtles from finding their way to the sea, then remove those obstacles.
If it is in the shade (e.g. under an umbrella), try to remove it.
If you find an injured turtle
You put the turtle in a SAFE PLACE away from people and noise. YOU ALWAYS RAISE IT FROM THE SHELL (never from the wings or the head).
If the animal is big it must be carried by 2 persons by catching the shell from behind the neck and over the tail.
YOU PLACE THE ANIMAL CAREFULLY making sure the wings do not remain under its body.
We put the animal in a place which is PROTECTED AND QUIET, AWAY FROM STREAMS AND WIND. In the summer months you should cover the would with a piece of WET CLOTH. The temperature of the place should not fall under 15 degrees Celcius. The turtle does not have to be put in sea water and if it is wounded at the head or exhausted, it MUST NOT BE PUT IN WATER BECAUSE IT MY DROWN.
If it is trapped in nets or fishing hook, you remove them carefully. In no circumstances should you TRY TO PULL A HOOK FROM THE MOUTH OR TAIL.
You control all wings and if you find RECOGNITION TAGS call the Rescue Network (210 8944444). You will be sent a special form which you have to COMPLETE carefully to help the turtle you found and also other turtles.
If you find a dead sea turtle
If the turtle is dead it should be CARRIED TO THE LAND and the Coast Guard as well as Archelon should be contacted. BE CAREFUL, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE TURTLES LOOKS DEAD BUT IT MAY BE IN DEEP SLEEP, ESPECIALLY IN THE COLD MONTHS.
YOU SHOULD CALL THE OFFICIAL VETERINARIAN AND IF THERE IS NOT ONE, YOU CALL ANOTHER VETERIANARIAN OR THE COAST GUARD. .
If you find a tag it should be removed and sent to ARCHELON.
ATTENTION, THIS IS ONLY FOR DEAD ANIMALS. It would be very helpful for ARCHELON if you take a photograph of the animal and especially its wounds.
Complete the special FORM sent to you by ARCHELON AND finally call the LOCAL AUTHORITIES for the burial of the animal.
For more information http://www.archelon.gr/
Wetland of Almyros near TUI Magic Life Candia Maris Hotel
The wetland of Almyros Heraklion is in the Municipality of Malevizi, about 1,5 km northwest from the centre of Gazi. It is a very special water ecosystem supplied from two underground water horizons. At the position where the water appears, the lake of Almyros is formed and from there the water starts its journey to the sea, flowing into Amudara. There is water all year and also some marshes and little lakes. At the wetland and in the wider area there are 21 different types of ecotopes. Next to the river bank there are canes of Phragites australis and Arundo donax along with tamarisks being home to a lot of birds. Moreover there are some palm trees (Phoenix theophrastii). There are palm trees only in very few places in Crete. It’s the same type of palm tree found in the palm forest of Vai in Sitia. In Almyros and its neighboring areas have been recorded 11 species of mammals, 206 bird species, 6 serpent species and 3 amphibian species of Crete and at least 4 species of birds. The water wetland hosted in the past large number of striped river turtles but today their number is reduced, because of the destruction of their habitat and fishing. As visitors we can see the springs of the river, the sea turtles lying in the sun and the birds at the big marsh. With appropriate shoes we can walk around in the wetland and see flowers and insects, colorful anemones, violets, daisies, beetles, spiders, dragonflies. With the use of a camera we can take pictures of the life of the wetland. If we are lucky, we may see the unique crab of Crete, which lives in sweet waters and has become rare.
