Mesa Lasithi is a small mountain village on the east side of the Lassithi Plain. The Lasithi plateau is 850 metres above sea level. It is 12km from east to west and 6km north to south and surrounded by high peaks, the highest is Spathi at 2,418 metres above sea level. These peaks protected the inhabitants of the plateau from attacks. Because the Lasithi Plain is at such a high altitude it is usually a bit cooler than on other places in Crete. The plain is at 43 kilometers distance from Agios Nikolaos and and has about 20 villages that are laid out in a circle around it. There are two entrances to the plateau: one is from the side of Agios Nikolaos and the other is a pass into the plateau coming from the Iraklion side through Kera. The Seli Ambelos Pass, at 900 metres, is dotted with abandoned windmills on either side. There is an impressive view of the plateau from here.