Souda

Souda was the main town in the former municipality of the same name, with the town hall found in Souda itself. This municipality was created in 1990 from the former community Souda, and was expanded with the former communities Kalami and Tsikalaria in 1997. At the 2010 Kallikratis reform, the municipality opf Souda was absorbed into the municipality of Chania, of which it became a municipal unit. The municipal unit is subdivided into the communities Souda, Aptera and Tsikalaria. The municipal unit extends from Chania's hinterland (Souda and Tsikalaria) along the coast, taking in the villages of Kalami and Aptera. Around 8,400 people live in the municipal unit, the majority in Souda itself. Due to the area's beautiful views across the sea and up to the White Mountains and its proximity to Chania, there is a great deal of pressure to build new houses and apartments. However, there has been some protection afforded by the restrictions of having a military base in the area. ==Sinking of HMS York during WWII==

During World War II, the Royal Navy heavy cruiser HMS York was disabled at Souda Bay by two Italian explosive motorboats (Italian: barchini esplosivi) of the Italian Decima Flottiglia MAS, launched by destroyers Crispi and Sella on 26 March 1941. Six motorboats entered the bay, led by Lieutenant Luigi Faggioni, and attacked three targets in pairs; the first was York, second the tanker Pericles and last another ship at anchor. Three of the attacking craft had various problems, either mechanical or human, due to the extreme temperature conditions, but the other three successfully attacked their targets. Two motorboats, packed with 330-kilogramme (667 lb) charges in the bows, struck York amidships, flooding both boiler rooms and one engine room. Two seamen were killed. ==Gallery==

File:Souda_Island.jpg|The islet of Souda, to the right of a smaller islet called Leon, within Souda Bay. File:Souda Bay from the of the Venetian fortress at Souda Island.jpg|View of the islet of Leon, from the Venetian fortifications on the islet of Souda, within Souda Bay. File:Cliffs and venetian fortress of Souda.jpg|View from the walls of the Souda fortress. ==References==