Further explorations of the caves of the Madara

In August we posted a report on explorations of the cave complex at Pemonia in Apokoronas and the major caves of Gourgouthas and Liontari. At the same time preparations were being made for another international expedition, to the cave complex of Sternes near Anopolis in the municipality of Sfakia. The two sites are on opposite sides of the Lefka Ori mountain range, which is known locally as the Madares or Madara, from the Cretan word madaros meaning bald or bare of vegetation. The Sternes expedition, the latest in a series carried out since 2017, was organised by the Speleological Association of Crete (SPOK), and a preliminary report from the Association was published on the Haniotika Nea website on 20th November. It is reproduced here, with some of the more technical details omitted for the sake of brevity.

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Continuing resistance to pharaonic projects

While the issues of the overhead power cables in Apokoronas and the wind farms in various parts of the Nomos of Chania may have temporarily faded from the headlines, representatives of the local populations who will be affected by what they have dubbed “pharaonic projects” have nevertheless remained active in drumming up support for their opposition.

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