Vai Wuthering Heights Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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A cache above the famous Vai Palm Forest and Beach.
The palm forest of Vai covers an area of approximately 250,000 square metres, making it the largest palm forest in Europe.
There are many stories about how palm trees came to Crete. According to the most common one, Phoenician sailors or Arab pirates came here in their ships, ate some dates and dropped the stones on the ground. This marked the beginning of the palm forest, which still grows if left alone.
However, scientists have proven that the Vai palm trees are an endemic species in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea known as Phoenix theophrasti, or Cretan Date Palm. The trees have found Vai an ideal spot to grow in, as the local climate is warm and dry.
The name Vai, comes from vaya, the Greek word for palms.
The beach and palm forest of Vai is also remarkable for its biodiversity, as many migrating birds stop here on their voyage to and from Africa.
The Vai forest is protected by the Forestry Service, the European Union and the relevant conventions. It is designated an “Aesthetic Forest”, one of 19 in Greece, and an “area of special protection” under Protocol 4 of the Barcelona Convention on protected Mediterranean sites.
Camping is forbidden in Vai, as is lighting fires and any other activities that may endanger the environment, flora and fauna of the beach.
The cache is hidden about 50 meters above the southern end of the beach. To get it, you have to climb up a considerable number of steps and walk a bit among rocks.
Strong winds are usual here, so please take care when climbing and mind that the cache is well protected. We wouldn’t like to see it fly away! Also, be careful of the numerous muggles who may be watching you, especially in summertime!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n ebpx.