Lassithi is the easternmost county in Crete and borders with Heraklion County to the West. It has an area of 1,823 km2 and a population of around 78,000. There are many small islands around Lassithi. The most important ones are Spinalonga, Gaidouronissi, Psira and Paximadi. The county is divided into the four provinces of Mirabello, lerapetra, Sitia and Lassithi. The county's capital is Agios Nikolaos. Other large cities include Sitia, lerapetra and Tzermiado, which are developing rapidly.
Its northern coast is swept by the Cretan Sea, the east by the Karpathian Sea, and to the south by the Libyan Sea. The northern end of the county is characterised by the deep Bay of Spinalonga and the two peninsulas of Spinalonga and Sideros. The mountainous mass of Dikti orthe Lassithiotika Mountains is located in the west of the county. Its highest peaks are Entichtis (2,148 m), Spathi (2,140 m) and Psari Madara (2,141 m).
The Sitia Mountains rise up in the centre of the Sitia peninsula. They are the natural continuation of Dikti and their highest peak is Afentis (1,476 m). There are no valleys in Lassithi, but there are two large plateaus: Chandras and Armeni in Sitia and Lassithi plateau.
In prehistoric times, Lassithi plateau used to be a lake, whose waters disappeared through an underground sinkhole to the sea. Megalos Potamos (Great River) torrent flows through the plateau and that is why it is very fertile. The numerous windmills are one of the plateau's special features. Lassithi County has small rivers, mostly created by torrents. The most important ones are Xiropotamos, whose source is in Dikti, Almyros, Stomios, Patelis and Myrtos.
In the city of Agios Nikolaos there is a small lake, which is connected to the sea. It is called Voulismeni Limni orAlmyri orVromolimni (Dirty Lake!). The most important characteristics of the coastline are Agios loannis cape, Spinalonga peninsula, Mirabello bay, Sitia bay and cape Sideros to the north, Grantes bay to the east, and Kala Nera bay to the south.
In antiquity, the mountains of Lassithi were covered by dense forests; today, however, they have been greatly reduced. The main vegetation is carob trees and holly bushes, while there are several pine trees on mount Thrypti. The climate in this county is Mediterranean, with mild winters and cool, dry summers. Usually, the temperature does not fall below 12 degrees Celsius, even in the winter months.
The world-famous celebrity tourist resort of Elounda, and the exotically beautiful palm forest of Vai are also located in Lassithi. The county has three ports: in Agios Nikolaos, Sitia and Lassithi. Sitia also has an airport connecting it to the Aegean islands and Athens. There are several interpretations of the etymology of the name Lassithi. Some say it comes from the Byzantine word "lassio" meaning mountainous, wooded.
According to popular etymology, it comes from "lakkositi" (wheat-pit) because of its extensive wheat production. Another interpretation would have it originating from the place-name Lato, with the addition of the ending "-tis" indicating origin, i.e. Latitis (of Lato) and hence Latition - Lassithion. It has also been attributed to "la Sitti", as the Venetians called Sitia.
The economy of Lassithi is based on agriculture and farming. Cereals, garden produce, grapes, olive,
carob and other trees dominate the cultivated areas. Goat and sheep breeding is quite developed in Lassithi. There is no heavy industry but only small industry and olive oil presses. Recently tourism has been added as a source of income, and is now constantly developing. As regards the county's fauna, there are mainly small mammals, such as porcupines, Cretan Mygalis (small mammal), weasels, badgers and ferrets. Of the 412 species of bird that live in Crete or pass through it, the most impressive are the large birds of prey, such as harrier eagles, golden eagles and vultures.
Black peregrines, king eagles and ospreys use the area in winter or in the summer for hunting. Migratory birds include snake eagles, reed hawks, and marsh hawks, while in the Cha gorge there is the largest colony of red jackdaws in Crete. All the species of snake (eleven, all harmless) and amphibians (three species) found in Crete are in Lassithi.
The county's coastline is an important biotope for the Coretto caretta sea turtle, and the presence of the Mediterranean seal Monachus monochus has also been reported several times. The county's flora is particularly important and rich, and there is a large variety of biotopes. There are local endemic species of plant (found nowhere else in Crete), as well as plants that grow in Asia and Africa, but nowhere in the rest of Europe.
Selakanou forest, Cha gorge, Vai (palm forest), Chryssi, Koufonissi and Dionyssades have unique vegetation.