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!!!!
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