Heraklion (regional unit)

Heraklion Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ηρακλείου
Regional unit
Municipalities of Heraklion regional unit; for the map key, see § Administration, below
Heraklion regional unit within Greece
Coordinates: 35°10′N 25°10′E / 35.167°N 25.167°E / 35.167; 25.167Coordinates: 35°10′N 25°10′E / 35.167°N 25.167°E / 35.167; 25.167
Country	Greece
Region	Crete
Capital	Heraklion
Area
• Total	2,641 km2 (1,020 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	305,490
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Postal codes	70x xx, 71x xx
Area codes	2810, 289x0
ISO 3166 code	GR-91
Car plates	HK, HP
Website	www.nah.gr

Heraklion (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ηρακλείου) is one of the four regional units of Crete. The capital is the city of Heraklion.

The regional unit of Heraklion borders on the regional units of Rethymno to the west and Lasithi to the east. Farmlands are situated in the central and the northern parts, at the coast and in valleys. The mountains dominate the rest of the regional unit, notably the south. The main mountains are parts of Ida or Idi Mountains to the west and Asterousia in the south. The regional unit includes the island of Dia to the north.

Except for the mountains which receive mild to cool winters unlike northern Greece, the warm to hot Mediterranean climate dominates the regional unit.

Within the Heraklion regional unit's boundaries are a number of significant Neolithic and Minoan settlements, most notably the ancient palace complexes of Knossos and Phaistos. While both archaeological sites evince Neolithic habitation, it is the rich finds of Minoan civilisation, which flourished approximately 2000 to 1600 BC, that command the greatest scholarly attention.

Important ancient cities are:

The regional unit Heraklion is subdivided into 8 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):

The Heraklion prefecture (Greek: Νομός Ηρακλείου) was created in 1915, after Crete joined with the rest of Greece. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Heraklion was created out of the former prefecture Heraklion. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.