Giofiros River

The Giofyros—also called Diakoniaris—is a notable river flowing north through Heraklion municipality, Crete. It drains a catchment of approximately 186 km², stretching around 25 km from its tributaries on the western slopes of Psiloritis massif, across valleys like Agia Varvara, Prinias, Prophet Elias, Venerato, and Agios Thomas, before emptying into the sea beside the Pancretan Stadium near Ammoudara.

Although often overshadowed by urbanization and pollution—particularly near its mouth, where it’s sometimes described as “more like a garbage dump or pit” due to sewage and litter—it still supports beautiful natural landscapes in its upper and middle reaches, including verdant gorges, riparian vegetation, and diverse wildlife