Elafonisi Beach, Beach in southwest Crete, Greece.
Elafonisi is a beach in southwestern Crete with a shallow lagoon stretching between the mainland and an offshore islet. The water remains knee-deep or shallower across an area roughly 50 to 100 meters wide, allowing visitors to wade across to the island.
During the Greek War of Independence in 1821, local villagers died on the islet. A lighthouse was built in 1939 following a maritime wreck that occurred nearby years earlier.
The name Elafonisi means deer island, though no one has spotted deer there for generations. The shallow lagoon between the islet and mainland is known locally for remaining ankle-deep throughout most of the year.
Visitors can walk long distances in the shallow water since the sea floor remains knee-deep to ankle-deep most of the time. During summer months, the area becomes noticeably more crowded around midday, so arriving earlier or later is more pleasant.
At the eastern tip of the islet grows a large cluster of sea plants that thrive despite harsh coastal spray. Loggerhead sea turtles occasionally nest in the fine sand, primarily between May and October.
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