Coast of Crete

Crete's southern coast faces the Libyan Sea, across the eastern Mediterranean from North Africa. Mountains and steep cliffs descend towards the water, broken by plains and small bays. Offshore, islands including Gavdos and Koufonisi lie to the south of the larger island. The name of the sea preserves an ancient use of Libya for the African lands west of Egypt, rather than referring only to the country that later bore that name.