Lefka

Lefka is a Greek toponym meaning “white,” used for several geographic places in Greece and nearby regions. The best known is Lefka Ori, commonly called the White Mountains, a rugged mountain range in western Crete.

Geography and features: Lefka Ori spans parts of the Chania and Rethymno regional units. The range is characterized by karst landscapes, deep gorges, and a variety of alpine and Mediterranean flora. Peaking at over 2,000 meters, the highest summit Pachnes rises to about 2,453 meters. The area includes several villages and is a popular destination for hiking, mountaineering, and nature study, with varying microclimates and ecosystems across its slopes.

Cyprus reference: Lefke (Greek: Lefka) is a town in the northwestern part of Cyprus. It lies near the coast and has a history of copper mining dating to antiquity. Since the 1974 division of the island, Lefke has been administered by the de facto Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The town is linked with nearby archaeological sites from classical and medieval periods and is part of the island’s broader historical landscape.

Etymology and usage: The name Lefka derives from the Greek word for “white,” a common descriptor in toponymy for pale rocks, limestone features, or high-elevation terrain. The form appears in multiple locations, each reflecting a local characteristic associated with the color.

See also: Lefkada and other similarly named places share the same linguistic root, though they refer to distinct locations.