The Almiros Spring, despite being one of the largest in terms of water volume in the Balkans, presents an intriguing paradox. Situated at the northeastern edge of Mount Psiloritis, just a short distance from the sea and the city of Heraklion, it pours the most significant amount of water in Crete directly into the sea. Its waters are brackish due to an underground mixing with seawater. Two primary sources contribute to its flow.
Psiloritis mountain range and its plateaus, such as Nida, serve as crucial sources. Water from these areas can reach the spring within an astonishingly short nine-hour period during winter. Additionally, water from the surrounding mountains also contributes to the spring's flow. The majority of the water originates from the sinkholes of Psiloritis, where it flows through underground rivers and caves before reaching the spring at great depths. At this point, a significant fault line, known as the Tylissos-Krousonas fault, acts as a barrier, causing the water to rise to the surface, already mixed with seawater.
The geosite description is a result of the deliverable of the research project Joint Innovative Activities for Outdoor Tourism-JoinOut. The project entitled "Partnership of Innovative Rural Tourism Actions" and distinctive title: "JoInOuT", is implemented within the framework of the Action "Cooperative Innovation Formations/SCC" - 2nd Call: Businesses" and is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by National Resources in the context of the Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation (EPANEK)" of the NSRF 2014-2020" (Project code: ΓΓ2CL-0359457).
