Municipality of Hersonissos
The Municipality of Hersonissos is located on the northern coast of the prefecture of Heraklion and only 25 kilometers from the city of Heraklion. It is very close to the main gates of the island which are the port and airport of Heraklion and the archaeological site of Knossos. From 2010 and when the Kallikratis program was implemented, the New Municipality of Hersonissos now includes the municipalities / former municipalities of Gouves, Episkopi and Malia. The area of the new Municipality is 271.58 with a population of 26.717 inhabitants according to the 2011 census.
In the coastal areas of Hersonisos, Gouves and Malia is developed the main tourist activity of the municipality. The new municipality is one of the most popular and developed tourist destinations of Crete and also of the country. It is known for its high quality hotel facilities, conference facilities and natural beauty in its coastline. The beautiful beaches, nightlife and mass tourism, however, are not the only face of the coin. The other side of Hersonissos, the less known, is the rich and untouched hinterland, scattered with historical monuments and landscapes of breathtaking natural beauty.
Characteristics of the beach
The beach of Hotel Creta Maris Resort is located within the Hersonissos area. The coastal zone is sandy with rocky formations at the edges, while there are large smooth slabs and rocks at the bottom. The bathing coast is the coastal part of an open gulf 550 meters long. The coast occupies the whole of the bay, has an average width of 20m and is oriented to the north-east. The bathing waters in the first meters are of normal depth and the slope of the bottom is mild (at an average distance of 130 meters from the coast the depth is estimated at 5 meters).
The access to the hotel and to the beach is quite easy as the hotel is within the Hersonissos residential area. The access also can be made either by bicycle or by foot, by public transport or motorbike and by car.
The surrounding area of the coast is residential with tourist activity and includes hotel, refreshments, restaurants and shops accommodations for the convenience of the visitors. To the east of the coast there are the port facilities of the Hersonissos Harbor. The harbor also has bind small fishing boats and recreational craft.
The distance of the beach / hotel:
From International Airport Nikos Kazantzakis of Heraklion is about 22.8Km and an estimated journey time of about 22 minutes
From the Port of Heraklion26.4 Km and an estimated journey time of about 31 minutes.
From the Historical Centre of Heraklion (Lions Square) 29,1Km and an estimated journey time of about 37 minutes.
Beach Regulation
General matters:
The opening hours of the beach are from 10:30 to 17:30.
Lifeguard is on duty: from May to September from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Knowledge of different flags at the stand: Green: Swim freely, Yellow: Swim at your own risk, Red: Do not swim when you see the red flag.
What is meaning of the different flags: Red: No lifeguard in service, Orange: Lifeguard on duty.
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 Creta Maris Resort.
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 drug 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.
All your rubbish should be placed with your own responsibility into the special waste containers.
It is prohibited to destroy any kind of vegetation.
The beach Manager 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.
The “Myth” of the Beach
Each land is carrying out always its own tradition, history and myths, as they shaped through time by the people who lived in it. For the particular establishment of Hersonissos we find version of texts in the ancient Greek texts and for the particular coastal area there are plenty of stories that have survived in anonymous texts of folk tradition.
Plutarch, a Greek philosopher that lived the second century informs us that the founding of Hersonissos was probably caused by Tyrrhenians and Hellotis (socially inferior layers) who had been exiled from Sparta. The legend says that according to an oracle, they would find their new home after they would lose the ships anchor and the Artemis (the goddess’s bastard), that they had inherited from their fathers. Spartan Pollis led most of them to Crete, to the place that today is called Hersonissos. That same night, loud noises frightened them so much and led them to flee the ships leaving the goddesses son behind on the land. When Pollis noticed that the tip of the anchor was missing, he realized that the oracle had been verified and showed them their new homeland. Following the oracle, they turned back and defeated the old inhabitants of the area and they settled there. Pluto’s myth about the colonization of Hersonissos was took place at some of the beaches of today’s Hersonissos – probably on the beach in front of Creta Maris Resort. The hill of Kastri as the acropolis of the city has been a timeless center of worship and it is located east of the central beach of Hersonissos. It is also directed related to the harbor and also the heart of the ancient city.
At the same time, also in the folk tradition there is another story that follows the coastal zone of Creta Maris Resort. This is how the story unfolds:
“Once upon a time there was a girl that was in love with a boy that hadn’t had the approval of her father. Her father discouraged their love and decided to take his daughter away from her loved one. The daughter however couldn’t stand to live without her love, so despite her father disapproval she decided to escape with her loved one at the sea. When her father realized that he cursed her to become a rock.”
This rock still exists till this day and bears the name “Kori” which means daughter. This rock is opposite the Creta Maris Resort, a person can see the rock from the beach and it’s a symbol of the couple’s history.
This rock still exists till this day and bears the name “Kori” which means daughter. This rock is opposite the Creta Maris Resort, a person can see the rock from the beach and it’s a symbol of the couple’s history.
Marine:
The coastal marine zone of Creta Maris Resort is consisted of shallow, sheltered waters with a soft sandy bottom. Just a short distance from the shore is a large, extensive reef- an artificial structure that hosts a large number of fish at a shallow depth, which has been naturally formed by sandstone rocks. In the reef, the swimmer can safely navigate and discover his little secrets. Small fishes roam the landscape looking for food on the seaweed that grows on the reef. Larger, like the Germans and Scallops, form flops that swim lazy. The sea urchins, firmly hooked, walk slowly by scraping the rocks and eating the algae. Crabs are circulating in the slits of the rocks. Although large in size, they are afraid of the presence of the man, whom they have just become aware of and they are disappearing.
With the use of a mask, a snorkel and a pair of flippers, small lens and a small underwater camera, the visitor can observe the sea life of the reef and capture it with his camera. Ιf you want, you can start from the shallows and see the sandy bottom the murmures and the tongue fishes, looking for their food in the sea bottom. Then, you will meet the reef. Your first image exudes a splendor but also a challenge to find its secrets. Swim slowly and with your eyes nailed on it and you will be able to observe plenty of the Marine life. An underwater landscape sculpted by the rough of the wind. Large ravines and cracks of the rock are waiting for you to see with their lens their secrets. Sponges cover the rocky surfaces, while small fountains move away from strange eyes. The depth at these positions does not exceed the 5 meters.
Land:
The sea lily, or Pancratium Maritimum, is a typical and emblematic species of sand dunes on the Mediterranean coast. During antiquity there was a sacred plant of the Minoans, and today it is threatened with extinction and is therefore considered, one of the protected species of the Mediterranean flora. It forms bulbs in the deep depth and dense clusters in the sand, while when it blooms in August provides the beaches with a unique beauty.
The sand dunes are a result of the action of the sea and the wind. These are sensitive and dynamic ecosystems that harbor plenty of plants and animals. Their ecological significance is great and is attributed to the dune vegetation, which has a primary structural role in their creation and preservation. This vegetation holds the sand, stabilizes the coastline and the soil, the corrosive action of the sea and the wind and it also works as a natural barrier (from sea water and watering the aquifer and the wind intensity) to the hinterland. The dune systems are sensitive and fragile ecosystems that have been adapted to the changes that been caused from natural causes like, the wind and the waves, while regardless of the sandy deposits like (area, thickness and height),they play an important role in the underground hydrology of the wider region. This is due to their considerable storage capacity with regard to underground waters, that they inhabit their mass. The organisms that live in these ecosystems are adapted to live in the hostile environment of dunes that is characterized by the lack of fresh water and the high salinity values of the air. At the same time dunes are protecting the ground from the corrosive action of the sea and they also prepare it for its colonization by other species such as the Pancratium Maritimum.
Calculation of load-bearing capacity of a Beach
For the term “load-bearing 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.
Althoughuntiltodaytherehasnotbeenawidelyaccepteddefinitionoracommonlyacceptedprocedureforthecalculationoftheload-bearing capacity of the beach, the calculation of the load-bearing 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 load-bearing capacity of this beach, the following data – information were considered;
Calculation practices of the load-bearing 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 about 300 umbrellas, that is, 600 beach chairs which correspond to 600 swimmers. This number is much smaller than the capacity of the beach.
Sustainable Waste Management
The main goal of the suggested management plan aim sat 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 in to 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 cigarettes which are thrown by the swimmers on the beach. It is suggested the placement of 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 many languages and the waste should be carried to the recycling centers regularly.
Moreover it should be mentioned that these weeds that are washed out at the beach are not an attractive view, but there is a processing method by a Greek company producing compost from seaweeds.
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.
Any other waste like batteries, electrical and electronic equipment should be given at the reception and the administrator of the beach has the responsibility to put them in the right bin, or inform the guest where the nearest container is.
In any case no rubbish should be thrown in to the wrong containers and of course nothing should be thrown into the beach or the sea.
Measures for the Protection of Endangered Species
At the beach of Creta Maris Resort no existence of endangered species has been mentioned. In any case, if endangered species appear, then measures for their protection have to be taken.
For example, some measures are mentioned below but in any case if you find an endangered species you should immediately contact the competent authorities of the state.
If you find a nest
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/
There isn’t any wetland near the beach.
