LEVINE, JAMES

Updates are now available! Modern Greek Lvka ri, also called Madhres ri, highest and most precipitous massif in western Crete, located a few miles south of the Cretan capital, Khani (Canea), in the noms (department) of Khani, Greece. The limestone peaks have been hollowed out by erosion into high plains such as the Omals (1,6503,300 ft [5001,000 m]), which gives access from the village of Lkkoi to the Samaria gorge, 11 mi (18 km) long and 1,000 ft deep. Bearing a stream during the wet season, the Samaria provides the only route of transit to the south coast over the Lvka range. The massif is separated from Mt. Apopigdhi (4,367 ft) on the west by a depression carrying the road from Khani to Aya Irni; on the east it is defined by the depression carrying the road from Vrsai to Chra Sfakon. At least four of the Lvka peaks exceed 6,600 ft. The highest is Mt. Lvka at 8,045 ft (2,452 m). The major stream rising from the Lvka is the Platanis, which flows past Lkkoi northwestward into the Klpos (gulf) Khanon. The region is believed to be the last habitat of the Cretan agrimi, a wild goat.