{{Short description|Mountain range of east Crete, Greece}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Mount Dikti | other_name = Spathi / Lasithiotika | image = Dikti mountain, Crete, Greece.jpg | image_caption = Selakano valley surrounded by the main ridge of Dikti | elevation_m = 2148 | elevation_ref = <ref name="peaklist">[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/EuroCoreP1500m.html "Europe Ultra-Prominences"]. Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2014-05-25.</ref> | prominence_m = 1798 | prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/> | listing = Ultra | map = Greece | map_caption = Greece | map_size = 270 | label_position = | location = Island of Crete, Greece | range = | coordinates = {{coord|35|07|08|N|25|29|56|E|type:mountain_region:GR_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | range_coordinates = | coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/> | topo = | first_ascent = | easiest_route = }}
'''Dikti''' or '''Dicte''' ({{langx|el|Δίκτη}}) (also '''Lasithiotika Ori'''; {{langx|el|Λασιθιώτικα Όρη}} "Lasithian Mountains"; anciently, '''Aigaion oros''' ({{langx|grc|Αἰγαῖον ὄρος}}) or {{langx|la|Aegaeum mons}})<ref>{{Barrington Atlas|page=61}}</ref> is a mountain range on the east of the island of Crete in the regional unit of Lasithi. On the west it extends to the regional unit of Heraklion. According to some versions of Greek mythology, Zeus was reared on this mountain in a cave called '''Dictaeon Antron''' (Psychro Cave). On the north of the main massif, the Lasithi Plateau is located. The topology of the mountain range is rich with plateaus (Lasithi, Katharo, Omalos Viannou, Limnakaro), valleys and secondary peaks. Some important peaks are Spathi (2,148 m) (the highest point), Afentis Christos/Psari Madara (2,141 m), Lazaros (2,085 m), Madara (1,783 m), Skafidaras (1,673 m), Katharo Tsivi (1,665 m), Sarakino (1,588 m), Afentis (1,571 m), Selena (1,559 m), Varsami (1,545 m), Toumpa Moutsounas (1,538 m), Platia Korfi (1,489 m), Mahairas (1,487 m), Virgiomeno Oros (1,414 m). The main massif forms a horseshoe around the valley of Selakano. Large parts of the mountain area, including the Selakano valley, are forested with pines (''Pinus brutia''), Kermes oaks (''Quercus coccifera''), cypresses (''Cupressus sempervirens''), Holm Oaks (''Quercus ilex'') and Cretan Maples (''Acer sempervirens''). The fertile valleys and plateaus of Dikti/Dicte are of significant importance in the local economy.
The dominant feature of Dikti is the Lasithi Plateau, the largest plateau in Crete. It is a place with a long history. Diktaion Antron, is located here, a cave in which — according to one legend — Zeus was born.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology|date=c. 1873|publisher=John Murray|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0104%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DZ%3Aentry+group%3D2%3Aentry%3Dzeus-bio-1|editor=William Smith}}</ref>
==Gallery== <gallery widths="200"> File:Snow Covered Dikti Summit Spathi.jpg|Spathi summit File:Lasithi-55.jpg|View of gorge in Dikti File:Lasithi-60.jpg|View of gorge in Dikti File:Lasithi-61.jpg|View of Lasithi plateau File:Katharo plateau 10.jpg|Landscape in Katharo plateau File:Katharo plateau 12.jpg|Landscape in Katharo plateau File:Katharo plateau 14.jpg|Road in Katharo File:Katharo plateau 15.jpg|Road in Katharo File:Katharo plateau 16.jpg|View of Katharo plateau File:Katharo plateau 18.jpg|Landscape in Katharo plateau File:Katharo plateau 2.jpg|View of Katharo File:Katharo plateau 3.jpg|View of Katharo File:Katharo plateau 4.jpg|Landscape in Katharo plateau File:Katharo plateau 7.jpg|Tree in Katharo plateau File:Lisitsa-24.jpg|A flock of sheep in Dikti File:Iris cretensis.jpg|''Iris cretensis'' File:Ophrys episcopalis2.jpg|''Ophrys episcopalis'' File:Papilio machaon σε anchusa azurea.jpg|''Papilio machaon'' on ''Anchusa azurea'' </gallery>
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==See also== * Britomartis * Diktynna * Dittany
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat}}
* [https://greekmountainflora.info/crete/ Greek Mountain Flora] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910144714/https://greekmountainflora.info/crete/ |date=2021-09-10 }}
{{Ultras of Europe}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Mountain ranges of Greece Category:Landforms of Lasithi Category:Places in Greek mythology Category:Geography of ancient Crete Category:Mountains of Crete Category:Zeus Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Europe