Crete is blessed with a distinct climate and a unique set of natural ecosystems. Delve into this island’s fascinating past at the Natural History Museum of Crete, a museum dedicated to the origins and protection of Greece’s great natural resources. Wander through a series of detailed dioramas, learn about the great diversity of species that have populated Crete and experience the sensation of an earthquake on the museum’s Seismic Table.
Founded in 1980 under the guidance of the University of Crete, the Natural History Museum of Crete has quickly become one of Greece’s most engaging and most comprehensive natural history institutions. The museum is dedicated to the study and protection of the region’s great ecology and its dedication to both education and advocacy makes it a unique cultural attraction.
The museum’s biggest section is that devoted to Mega-Dioramas, careful reconstructions of the region’s different ecosystems. Admire the diversity of natural environments that are represented in this area, ranging from beech forests through mountainous conifers to rocky and sandy deserts and beyond.
Over at the Live Museum, the emphasis is on Crete’s living creatures great and small. The dry mountainous landscape of this small Mediterranean island has provided a unique home to all kinds of species, both today and in the past. Get to know the museum’s collections of lizards and birds, then investigate the aquariums filled with tropical fish. Don’t miss the crowd favourite, a model of the gigantean deinotherium, a prehistoric elephant that was native to the area.
Head on to the Fossils Room, where you will find over 8,000 fossils from the region. Another popular attraction is the Seismic Table, an earthquake simulator. Experience the sensations felt by locals during one of the many earthquakes that have struck Crete over the centuries. This exhibit also contains information about the geological causes of earthquake events plus a functioning seismograph.
The museum is well suited for families. Children will particularly enjoy the interactive exhibits in the Stavros Niarchos area as well as the holograms and optical illusions of the Light Mysteries section.
The Natural History Museum of Crete is located centrally in Heraklion, on the harbour’s western side. There is an entry fee. The museum is open every day of the week.
