Natural heritage

4th Comenius Meeting in Bucharest, Romania 21-25 October, 2013

The Natural Heritage of

Cyprus: Forests, Sea and Beaches

Cyprus

Contents of the presentation

1. Natural Attractions: • Akamas Peninsula • Troodos Natural Forest

Park • Pentadaktylos, Mesaoria • Beaches 2. Flora and Fauna of Cyprus

The Akamas Peninsula

• located on the western tip of Cyprus

• great natural beauty unaffected by development

• diversity of flora and fauna including the endangered species Centaurea akamantis - a rare endemic plant found almost exclusively in the Gorge of Avakas

• rare endemic plants • foxes, snakes, reptiles and

many types of migratory birds live in Akamas or use it in their movements

The Akamas Peninsula

• Akamas is the last large unspoiled coastal area remaining in Cyprus

• and one of the very few important sea turtle nesting areas in the Mediterranean.

• Both the endangered species of Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta-caretta) and the rarer Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest here; and depend on the Akamas beaches for their very survival in this region.

Akamas Peninsula: Sea Turtle Nesting Areas

• The visitor can enjoy various nature walking and biking trails and can reach easily nearby stone-built villages.

Activities in Akamas Peninsula -land

• Cruises • Swimming • Diving

Activities in Akamas Peninsula -water

• The Avakas Gorge is a stunning natural feature. A small river has cut a deep, steep-sided gorge through the rocks as the water flows off the high ground near the village of Arodes on its way to the sea.

• It took 90 million years to Avakas Gorge to get this form.

• It is Canyon type, narrow and very high. It has taken this name from the Canyon gorge in Colorado, USA.

• The gorge is 3 Km long.

Avakas Gorge

• Rich in flora, the gorge has pine trees, cypresses, junipers, wild fig trees, ferns and oaks among other trees as well as a profusion of wild flowers. Fauna includes foxes, hares, falcons, crows, night owls, butterflies and a large number of reptiles.

Avakas Gorge

Baths of Aphrodite

Baths of Aphrodite The Goddess of Love used to take her bath in a cool pond near Polis, in Akamas. This place is known as "Baths of Aphrodite”. According to the legend, Aphrodite used to bathe in this pond, surrounded by idyllic landscape with the sweet smelling wild flowers. It is here that she met her beloved Adonis for the first time.

Students’ Work

Troodos Natural Forest Park

•The Troodos Range is the predominant geological and morphological feature on the island. •covered mostly with natural forests hosts invaluable plant and animal habitats.. •The Troodos forest occupies the heart of the Range and includes its highest peaks (up to 1952m). •The Troodos forest lies about 40km north of Lemesos and 60km west of the capital Nicosia. It covers an altitudinal zone of 600m.

Troodos Natural Forest Park-Activities

•Picnicking: There are nine

picnic sites within the Park

area with a capacity for

250 to 2000 visitors.

•Camping: There are four

places for camping.

Platania picnic area,

Troodos

•Hiking and biking: In total there are 10 natural trails within the Park. Trails provide an excellent chance to get to know the beauties of the Park and have a closer look at the various features like wild plants, fauna, geology and sceneries. The best season for walking is usually from April to November.

Troodos Natural Forest Park-Activities

•Snow activities: Activities related to snow can only be pursued during January and February and in some years from December to March when snow is present.

Troodos – Kalidonia Waterfalls

•Kalidonia Waterfalls are located in Platres village, in Troodos. • It is one of the highest located in Cyprus and is surrounded by forest. •It is most popular in summer, when it offers a cool and shady retreat from the powerful midday sun.

Pentadaktylos

Mesaoria

1. Ayia Napa 2. Protaras –

Konnos Bay

Beaches

Protaras – Cape Greco caves and Nissi Beach

Larnaca

Limassol – 1. Pissouri Bay 2. Governor’s

Beach

Paphos 1. Coral

Bay 2. Lara

Bay, Akamas

3. Polis

Birth of Aphrodite- Aphrodite’s Rock

According to the legend, this rock is the site of the birth of the goddess Aphrodite, who emerged from the foaming waters around the rock fragments. Gaia (Mother Earth) asked one of her sons, Cronus, to mutilate his father, Uranus (Sky). Cronus cut off Uranus' testicles and threw them into the sea. A white foam appeared from which a maiden arose, the waves first taking her to Kythera and then bringing her to Cyprus. The maiden, was named Aphrodite or Venus.

Cyprus Flora: Native and Rare Plants

Bosea Cypria A bush that grows in rocky limestone in Akamas,

Pentadactilos, and Rizocarpaso.

Centaurea Akamantis

Crocus Cyprius: endangered species,

grows in Troodos.

Cyclamen Cyprium Grows in Troodos,

Pentadactilos, Akamas.

Orphys Kotschyi -Melissaki

Looks like a bee,

Grows in Pentadaktylos

Tulipa Cypria

Grows in Akamas and Pentadactilos

Rosa Chionistrae

Wild Rose, grows in Troodos

Students’ work on native Cyprus Flora

Students’ work on native Cyprus Flora

Cyprus Fauna: Native and Rare Animals

Heirophis cypriensis

Natrix natrix cypriaca -watersnake

• The island's sea creatures include seals and turtles. Two marine turtles, the Green turtle (Chelona mydas) and the Loggerhead turtle (Caretta careta) breed regularly on the island's sandy beaches and are strictly protected.

Sea turtles

The largest wild animal that still lives on the island is the Cyprus moufflon, a rare type of wild sheep that can only be found in Cyprus.

Moufflon

This bat lives only in Cyprus

Rousettus aegyptiacus –Cyprus Bat

Birds of prey: Eleonora’s falcon & Imperial Eagle

Gyps fulvus

• Cyprus is used by millions of birds as a stopover during their migration from Europe to Africa and back. The main reason for that is the existence on the island of two wetlands, with unique and international importance, namely the Larnaka and Akrotiri salt lakes.

Cyprus wetlands: immigration birds -flamingos

Students’ work about

Cyprus’ native fauna

Students’ work about

Cyprus’ native fauna

School activities • FIELD TRIP • LECTURES • PROJECTS • VIDEOS

PROJECTS

The herbs • God blessed our island with a huge variety of herbs, which can be used to improve our health.

• The weather conditions in Cyprus help the growth of those shrubs.

• Cypriots discovered the remedial use of herbs since ancient years. Evidence shows that herbs have been exported to neighboring countries.

Excavated ancient vessels to store essential oils

Herbs can be used in our daily life in different forms: • Herbal extracts - tea • Essential oils – for massage or bath (for prevention, healing, relaxation or toning of our body)

• Garnishing in food.

Nature inspires us to work…

Visit to the herb garden

Creating a herbarium

The result! Our herbarium!

Our effort to create and maintain a herb garden in our school

Our Herb Garden!!!

Creating a video about our natural

heritage

Students’ Projects: Creating posters about Cyprus’ Natural Beauty

Our posters about Cyprus’ Natural Beauty

Our small video

FIELD TRIPS

Visiting the environmental educational center in Salamiou

Grandma, You are a magician of

cuisine!

Lecture on the Natural heritage of the area.

On our way to the field trip.

The area on our way to our field trip.

Kourtelorotsos Or

Hasampoulia rocks

Diarizos river - Field trip

Studying the fona and flora

of diarizos valley

Life by the RIVER

Visit to the sponge and shells museum

LECTURES

Lecture at the school about Cyprus endemic plants and animals from officials of the forest department

We are waiting for you in Cyprus!!!! Jsme na vás čeká na Kypru!!!! Siamo in attesa per voi a Cipro!!!! Czekamy na Ciebie na Cyprze!!!! Suntem în așteptare pentru tine în Cipru!!!! Biz Kıbrıs'ta sizleri bekliyor!!!!