At the entrance of Souda Bay, near Chania, lie two small uninhabited islets: Souda and Leon. In ancient times, these were collectively known as "Leukai," meaning "white ones" in Greek. This name is associated with a myth in which the Sirens, after losing a musical contest to the Muses, were so distraught that their feathers turned white and fell into the sea, forming these islets.
Souda Island, the larger of the two, was fortified by the Venetians in 1571 due to its strategic position controlling access to the bay. The fortress played a significant role in the region's defense and remained under Venetian control until 1715, even after much of Crete had fallen to the Ottomans.
Today, the Lefkes islets stand as silent sentinels at the bay's entrance, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Crete's history and mythology.