The geomorphological and geological structure of the Samaria Gorge, Crete, Greece—geological models comprehensive review and the link with the geomorphological evolutionThe geomorphological and geological structure of the Samaria Gorge, Crete, Greece—geological models comprehensive review and the link with the geomorphological evolution Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2023-08-232022enThis research was funded by the Applied Research Project “3D geological structure modeling of Samaria Gorge, aiming at the investigation of hydrogeological conditions and water reservoir levels in the core of Samaria National Park (Lefka Ori), Western Crete” (funding number: 82230), which is financially supported by the Green Fund “Forest Protection and Upgrading 2019” under “Other Nationals. Green Fund”.The Samaria Gorge is a dominant geomorphological and geological structure on Crete Island and it is one of the national parks established in Greece. Due to the complex tectonics and the stratigraphic ambiguities imprinted in the geological formations of the area, a comprehensive review of the geological models referring to the geological evolution of the area is essential in order to clarify its geomorphological evolution. In particular, the study area is geologically structured by the Gigilos formation, the Plattenkalk series and the Trypali unit. Regarding lithology, the Gigilos formation predominantly includes phyllites and slates, while the Plattenkalk series and the Trypali unit are mainly structured by metacarbonate rocks; the Plattenkalk series metacarbonate rocks include cherts, while the corresponding ones of the Trypali unit do not. Furthermore, the wider region was subjected to compressional tectonics, resulting in folding occurrences and intense faulting, accompanied by high dip angles of the formations, causing similar differentiations in the relief. Significant lithological differentiations are documented among them, which are further analyzed in relation to stratigraphy, the tectonics, and the erosion rate that changes, due to differentiations of the lithological composition. In addition, the existing hydrological conditions are decisive for further geomorphological evolution.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Applied Sciences1220Manoutsoglou_et_al_Appl. Sci._12(20)_2022.pdfChania [Greece]Library of TUC2023-08-23application/pdf11.8 MBfree Manoutsoglou Emmanouil Μανουτσογλου Εμμανουηλ Lazos Ilias Λαζος Ηλιας Steiakakis Emmanouil Στειακακης Εμμανουηλ Vafeidis Antonios Βαφειδης Αντωνιος MDPI Geomorphological and geological features Samaria Gorge White Mountains Crete Greece