Along the entire coastline around Kato Zakros, successive flat surfaces appear on the mountain slopes at different elevations, reaching up to 300 meters. These surfaces are indications of the sea level in earlier times and were created by the action of waves. The different elevations of these ancient shorelines reveal the gradual uplift of Crete, which is particularly evident in this area. On the lowest ancient shoreline, which is at an elevation of about 20 meters above sea level, fossils of dwarf hippos (Hippopotamus creutzburgi) and deer (Candiacervus cretensis) that lived at least 21,000 years ago have been found.
The geosite description is a result 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).
