The
Troodos Mountains
Although there are technically two mountain ranges
in Cyprus, the Troodos Mountains and the Pentadaktylos,
the latter is really just a minor coastal range.
The highest peak of the Troodos is Mount Olympus
rising to 1951 meters above sea level. From here,
spectacular panoramic views of the majestic mountains
and rustic villages offer a dramatic contrast to the
beach life of Cyprus.
Ideal for those looking for
scenic and relaxing holidays, this hiker's paradise
inspires poets and artists alike and is a pure haven
for nature lovers.
In these mountains, the friendly,
hospitable villagers will show you how leisurely the
pace of life should be, as they proudly show you their
crops, products and hand made crafts for which all
the local villages are famed.
The Kykkos Monastery with its golden icon of the
Virgin Mary allegedly painted by St Luke is a 'must
visit' when in the mountains, but make sure that you
have trousers and tops with sleeves when you visit,
otherwise entry will be denied, and it is a long way
to go to be refused entry !
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Troodos
and the Pentadaktylos
The mountain range of Troodos is thought to be
92 million years old and was created from the ancient
oceanic bark, to which limestone sediment began to
build when there was the drop in the sea levels.
They
say the legend of the birth of Aphrodite, as she emerged
from the foam of the sea waves, should be compared
to the geological birth of the island of Cyprus, in
that the island started rising from the sea 11 million
years ago creating the Troodos Mountains, soon followed
by the Pentadaktylos range to the north.
During the months of January and February it snows quite frequently
on the higher peaks, whilst snow is a very rare phenomenon
in the plains. The Troodos mountain range is the sources
of all the main rivers of Cyprus, and the area is
therefore of enormous importance for the island’s water supplies
with 100 vitally important dams creating fresh water
reservoirs. These reservoirs store an average of 370
million cubic metres of fresh water annually, thereby
preventing Cyprus from serious drought during the
summer and to helping to ensure an equal distribution
between the mountains and the much drier coastal areas. |
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