Sarchos Cave or Chonos or Nychteridospilio is located to the west of the village of Sarchos, at an altitude of 276m. It is one of the largest and most important caves in Crete, which is particularly loved by speleologists due to its complexity and its long length. The inhabitants of the village found refuge in the cave during the Turkish occupation. The total routes in the cave exceed 1500m in length, while the depth of the cave reaches 230m. The entrance is 4.5m wide and 3m high.
Characteristic of the cave is an alternation of halls and spacious corridors and galleries. The cave has a downward slope along almost the entire length of its routes. In practice, the cave is an old conduit that channeled part of the waters of Mount Ida to the northern coast, before it was raised. The decoration of the cave is limited, old and in a phase of disintegration. Predominant decorative elements present are rheumatolites, stalagmites, stalactites and a few corals. The cave is home to three important bat species of Crete. After all, many call it a bat cave. The cave is divided into two sections. The first section starts from the entrance and extends 780m. in length and 130m. in depth and is the active part of the cave that receives water inflows in extremely rare cases. The second section starts from the end of the previous one and extends along the entire length of the cave to a depth of 228m. This is the seasonally active network where there is an intense flow of water during periods of rainfall, which makes it quite dangerous. After all, it is no coincidence that in November 2003, the cave became known nationwide for the very difficult rescue operation of 3 speleologists, who were trapped in the cave after a rainfall. The rescue operation lasted 4 days and was very difficult. the cave became known throughout Greece for the very difficult rescue operation of 3 speleologists, who were trapped in the cave after a rainfall. The rescue operation lasted 4 days and was very difficult. the cave became known throughout Greece for the very difficult rescue operation of 3 speleologists, who were trapped in the cave after a rainfall. The rescue operation lasted 4 days and was very difficult.
The cave is also called Chonos, as it is essentially a sinkhole that drains running water through the chasms found in the "Krousaniotiko livadi" and "Vromonero". During periods of heavy rainfall, large amounts of water flow into the cave through its lower layers and flood its conduits from the bottom up. Chonos is the classic case of a "pressured" source, as in 1975 it produced 23 cubic meters of water from the entrance. It is one of the most important supply pipes of the source of Almyros, which is only 13.5 km from Sarcho. The cave has always been visited by the inhabitants of the wider area, whether shepherds or for protection. It has great historical importance as during the revolutions against the Turks the inhabitants used it as a refuge from 1746-1896. Especially in the revolution of 1866-69, the women and children of the village had taken refuge in Chonos to save themselves. The failure of the Turks to burn the cave with the women and children forced them to sign an honorary protocol with the head of the cave guard I. Philippakis. This fact had a favorable impact on the Cretan struggle.
Editor: Fotini Anastasopoulou