Elafonisi Island is near the southeast tip of Crete, 43km from Kastelli and 76km from Chania. The road from Chrisoskalitissa continues as a dirt track of 5km to Elafonisi. There are organized bus tours from Kastelli and Chania as well as boat tours from Paleohora to Elafonisi. The area of Elafonisi has beautiful beaches, in front of which is the island of Elafonisi itself.
This lovely islet was the site of a massacre of 850 women and children by the Turks in 1824. The women and children were hidden there and as the Turks camped on the beaches a horse found the shallow, 0.5 - 0.8 metre-deep water path to the island. The Turks discovered the women and children and slaughtered them. There is a memorial plaque on the highest point of the islet.
By Wolfgang Staudt
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