Elafonissi Beach<br>Elafonissi is located 76km west of Chania in the southwestern most point of Crete. Elafonisi is an oblong, which often<br>"breaks" in two parts by water giving the impression of being a separate island.<br>Elafonissi is a “Natura 2000” protected area. The island is full of dunes with sand lilies and junipers (like-cedar trees). The<br>endangered turtles Caretta-Caretta and several rare animals nest on the island and it is strictly forbidden to remove any<br>plants, animals from the area. Exotic beach with white sand and turquoise waters, reminding of the Caribbean, are formed<br>on either sides of the peninsula. The sand is pinkish in many places, taking its color from thousands of broken shells.