CRETE

Modern Greek Krti, Ancient Greek Crete or Krete, Latin Creta, Turkish Kirid, Venetian Candia island in the eastern Mediterranean that is one of 13 administrative regions of Greece. Crete is the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean and the largest of the islands forming part of modern Greece. It is relatively long and narrow, stretching for 160 miles (260 km) on its east-west axis and varying in width from 7.5 to 37 miles (12 to 60 km). The administrative centre is Irklion (Irkleion), on the northwest coast. Area 3,218 square miles (8,336 square km). Pop. (1991) 540,054. John S. Bowman