Heraklion () is one of the four regional units of Crete. The capital is the city of Heraklion. Geography 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. Ancient history 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 from 7000 BC, it is the rich finds of Minoan civilisation, which flourished approximately 2800 to 1450 BC, that command the greatest scholarly attention. Important ancient cities are: Knossos Phaistos Gortys Tylissos Malia Lyttos Amnisos Kaloi Limenes Heraklion Population history 1991 - 263,868 2001 - 292,482 2011 - 305,490 Administration The regional unit Heraklion is subdivided into 8 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): Archanes-Asterousia (2) Faistos (7) Gortyna (4) Heraklion (Irakleio, 1) Hersonissos (Chersonisos, 8) Malevizi (5) Minoa Pediada (6) Viannos (3) Prefecture The Heraklion prefecture () 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. Provinces Province of Pyrgiotissa - Voroi Province of Kainourgio - Moires Province of Malevizi - Agios Myronas Province of Temenos - Heraklion Province of Pediada - Kasteli Province of Monofatsi - Pyrgos Province of Viannos - Pefkos Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece. Transport GR-90/E65 GR-97 GR-99 Notable people El Greco (medieval Castilian nickname meaning "the Greek"), by which Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος Domênikos Theotokópoulos, is best known. (Born 1541, Fodele, Heraklion and died on April 7, 1614, Toledo, Spain), a world-famous painter, sculptor and architect Nikos Kazantzakis was born in the village Varvaro (renamed