Nature Trails
Troodos / Troodos
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Troodos
Troodos
National Forest Park is at the centre of the island and covers an
area of 9337 hectares. The highest point is Chionistra or Olympos
(1952 m) and the lowest is Moni forest (700m). The area is magical
and suitable for a variety of activities such as hiking, skiing,
mountain cycling, nature study and
picnics.
Over 770 plant species have managed to
survive, making Troodos NFP the richest botanical garden of Cyprus.
The area's geology is of world-wide importance. The world's best
preserv ed ophiological complex is studied by scientists with a view
to achieving an understanding of how the ocean's crust was created
90 million years ago at the bottom of a vast ocean known to
geologists as the "sea of Tethys". Along the trails, one can see
samples of plutonic rock which were created by the crystallization
of magma which took place 2000-6000 m, under the bottom of the
ocean. In the area 10 trails exist covering a total lenght of 50
kms.
Artemis Trail
Starting point: 300 m from the junction
between the Chionistra road and the Troodos - Prodromos road at an
altitude of 1850m
Length: 7 kms Time: 21/2 hours
Points of interest: The Pinus Nigra
forest, rare species of flora and rocks of the area. Of historic
interest are the ruins of rough fortifications built during the
final year of the Venetian occupation of Cyprus (1571 AD) by a group
of Venetian generals who decided to put up a defence against the
Ottomans at that point. It ends at a point on the Atalanti trail.
Atalanti Trail
(Circular)
Starting Point: Troodos Square
Length: 12 kms Time: 5 hours
Points of interest: The trail goes
around Chionistra at an altitude of 1700-1750 m., passing through
dense thickets of Pinus Nigra and Troodos Juniper Phoenicia. One of
the largest Junipers which is 800 years old can be found in the
area. There is an outstanding view of the entire island. Of
particular interest is the entrance to a disused chromium mine which
ceased its operations in 1982. At 3 kms from the Troodos Square is a
spring with drinking water.
Persephone Trail
Starting point: 150 m South of Troodos
Square. Walkers must either return to the starting point or be
picked up at the point where the trail crosses the forest road.
Length: 3 kms Time: 1 hour to return to
starting point
Points of interest: Rich vegetation and
a breathtaking view from Makria Kontarka.
Kampos tou Livadiou
(Circular)
Starting point: The forest road leading
to the "Kampos tou Livadiou" picnic site 3 kms from Troodos square
and 9 kms from Karvounas.
Length: 3 kms Time: 11/2 hours
Points of interest: A significant number
of centuries-old Pinus Nigra. The trail is linked to "Kampos tou
Livadiou" picnic site.
Kalidonia
Starting point: About 700m from the road
between Troodos and Platres near the President's summer residence.
Also accessible via a forest road which begins at the tourist road 2
kms from the Square.
Length: 3 kms Time: 11/2 hours
Points of interest: The trail follows a
course along Kryos Potamos river, which never runs dry. It passes
the Kalidonia Falls and ends at Psilo Dendro, in Pano Platres.
Psilo Dendro - Pouziaris
Starting point: The junction of the
Platres - Mesa Potamos forest road and the Moniatis - Platres -
Troodos road near Psilo Dendro.
Three different routes start from the
above point.
The first route is circular. It passes
through dense thickets of Pine to Pouziaris peak, from there to
Kaminouthkia stream, then to Vryses and back to the starting point
at Psilo Dendro.
Length: 8 kms Time: 3 hours
The second route is an uphill walk
towards Pouziaris and ends at a point of the Troodos Square - Makria
Kontarka (Persephone) Trail (I) via which one can go to Troodos
Square (II).
Length: (I) 7 kms Time: (I) 3 hours
Length: (II) 9.5 kms Time: (II) 4 hours
The third route initially follows the
same course as the previous route, up towards Pouziaris, but then
takes a secondary forest road to Kryos Potamos at the starting point
of the Kalidonia trail.
Length: (I) Psilo Dendro - Kryos Potamos
5 kms Time: (I) 2 hours
Length: (II) Psilo Dendro - Kryos
Potamos - Kalidonia Falls - Psilo Dendro 8 kms Time: (II) 3 hours.
Myllomeris Falls
Starting Point: Opposite Platres Church
Length: 1.2 kms Time: 1/2 hour
Points of interest: The trail leads to
Myllomeris Falls.
Kalopanagiotis - Oikos
Starting Point: Kalopanagiotis village.
Length: 1.5 kms Time: 1hour
Points of interest: The trail passes
through the Kykkos Watermill, the Kalopanagiotis spas, the Agios
Ioannis Lampadistis Monastery included in the Unesco World Cultural
Heritage List, the spring of Faragga where one can have a rest and
ends in the village of Oikos Marathasas.
Kampos tou Livadiou -
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Church, Kakopetria
Starting Point: Kampos tou Livadiou,
2kms from the Troodos Square on the road to Karvounas.
Length: 8 kms Time: 31/2 hours
Points of Interest: The trail passes
through thickets of Pinus Nigra and follows a course along the edge
of cliffs with a view towards the Potamos tou Chromiou (stream). The
trail ends at the loose surface road Platania - Apotheri - Agios
Nikolaos where one can choose between three routes which end at the
Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Church, included in the Unesco World
Cultural Heritage List, Kakopetria village or the Platania pic-nic
site.
GERAKIES (Circular)
The picturesque village of Gerakies is
situated in the beautiful Marathasa Valley 65 kms from Lefkosia. It
is built on the slope of a mountain, amid rich vegatation, on the
fringes of the Pafos Forest.
Starting point: Top Trees Hotel
Length: 4 kms Time: 2 hours
Points of interest: The trail takes an
upward course to the fire station, progresses along the mountain
crest, and then descends to the village centre.
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