Diver snorkeling in the turquoise colored Bay of Messara, Matala, famous for its beach, cliffs and caves, Crete, Greece.
Diver snorkeling and armed with a harpoon, looking for the catch of the day in the crystal clear turquoise Bay of Messara, Matala, Crete, Greece. Matala is famous for its impressive formations of sandstone rock cliffs and caves. They slide into the Bay of Messara at an odd angle, creating one of the most unusual beachscapes. The artificial caves in the cliff of the Matala bay were created in the Neolithic Age. Matala was the port of Phaistos during the Minoan period. In the year 220 BC. Matala was occupied by the Gortynians and during the Roman period Matala became the port of Gortys. In the 1st and 2nd centuries the caves were used as tombs. In the 1960s the caves were occupied by hippies. Matala has a safe natural harbor and it offers sandy and pebble beaches. It's the place, where according to legend where Zeus swam ashore in the guise of a bull with Europa on his back. The beach is 250m long and 45m wide.
Size: 4752px × 2538px
Location: Matala, Heraklion region, Crete, Greece, Europe
Photo credit: © Mieneke Andeweg-van Rijn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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