Nida Plateau

The Nida Plateau is a large polje at an average altitude of 1,400 meters in central Crete’s Psiloritis massif, a key part of the Psiloritis UNESCO Global Geopark. Its creation resulted from the Idaion Fault and karstification processes. The plateau is a critical water source for the region, with water vanishing into sinkholes. It is home to the Ideon Andron, the mythological cave where Zeus was raised, which was a major religious sanctuary for 3,000 years. The local culture is defined by its stone shepherd's huts (mitata).