The ecological park of Yuhta includes the mountain itself and three gorges: the Knosanos, the Kunavianos and the Astrakanos, which is also the longest. The archaeological dimension of Iuchta is due to important archaeological sites that have been identified in the area. Four sanctuaries and a Minoan cemetery have provided important information about the Minoan culture. Important sites with historical value have also been identified in the gorges of the park, such as ancient Eltyna, the Minoan settlement of Myrtias and the Minoan cemetery of Astrakon.
At the same time, there are monuments from the most recent history such as the church of Christ the Master at the top of Iuchta and two Venetian bridges, one in Agia Irini and one in Karydaki. The ecological dimension of the mountain and the wider area is due to their remarkable flora and fauna. The flora of the canyons includes hydrophilic species such as plane trees, willows and ligaria as well as many endemic to Greece or Crete. As for its fauna, it includes more than 44 species of birds and 7 species of mammals.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou