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4 -
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 Mount Olympus (1952 m) and the lowest is Moni forest (700 m). 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 National Forest Park the richest botanical garden of Cyprus.
The area's geology is of worldwide importance.
The world's best preserved 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, samples of plutonic rock can be seen.
These 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 length of
50 km
1. Artemis Trail
Length : 7 km Time:
2 1/2 hours
Starting point: 300m from the junction between
the Chionistra road and the Troodos - Proodromos road at an altitude of 1850 m
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 the point on the
Atalanti trail.
2. Atalanti Trail (Circular)
Length : 12 km Time:
5 hours
Starting point: Troodos Square
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. 3 km from Troodos
square is a spring with drinking water.
3. Persephone Trail
Length : 3 km Time:
1 hour, returns to starting point
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.
Points of Interest: Rich vegetation and a
breathtaking view from Makria Kontarka
4. Kampos tou Livadiou (Circular)
Length : 3 km Time:
1 1/2 hours
Starting point: The forest road leading to the "Kampos
tou Livadiou" picnic site 3 km from Troodos square and 9 km from Karvounas.
Points of Interest: A significant number of
centuries-old Pinus Nigra. The trail is linked to "Kampos tou Livadiou" picnic
site.
5. Kalidonia
Length : 3 km Time:
1 1/2 hours
Starting point: About 700 m 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 km from the
Square.
Points of Interest: The trail follows a course
along Kryos Potamos, which never runs dry. It passes the Kalidonia Falls and
ends at Psilo Dendro, in Pano Platres.
6. Psilo Dendro - Pouziaris
Length route (a): 8 km Time
route (a): 3 hours
Length route (b): (1) 7 km Time
route (b): (1) 3 hours
Length route (b): (11) 9.5 km Time
route (b): (11) 4 hours
Length route (C): (1) Psilo Dendro - Kryos
Potamos 5 km Time
route (C): (1) 2 hours
Length route (C): (11) Psilo Dendro - Kryos
Potamos - Kalidonia Falls - Psilo Dentro 8 km Time route (C):
(11) 3 hours
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
(a) 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.
(b) The second route is an uphill walk towards
Pouzizris and ends at a point of the Troodos Square -Makria Kontarka
(Persephone) Trail (1) via qhich one can go to Troodos Square (11)
(c) 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
7. Myllomeris Falls
Length : 1.2 km Time:
1/2 hour
Starting point: Opposite Platres Church
Points of Interest: The trail leads to
Myllomeris Falls
8. Kalopanagiotis - Oikos
Length : 1.5 km Time:
1 hour
Starting point: Kalopanagiotis village
Points of Interest: The trail passes through the
Kykkos Watermill, the Kalapanagiotis 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.
9. Kampos tour Livadiou - Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis
Church, Kakopetria
Length : 8 km Time: 3 1/2 hours
Starting point: Kampos tou Livadiou 2 km from
the Troodos Square on the road to Karvounas
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. Kakopetira village or the Platania picnic
site.
10. Gerakies (Circular)
Length : 4 km Time:
2 hours
The picturesque village of Gerakies is situated in the
beautiful Marathasa Valley, 65 km from Nicosia. It is built on the slope
of a mountain, amid rich vegetation, on the fringes of the Paphos Forest.
Starting point: Top Trees Hotel
Points of Interest: The trail takes an upward
course to the fire station, progressing along the mountain crest and then
descends to the village centre.
This information was taken from the CTO
publication Nature Trails of Cyprus. You can get a copy from any Cyprus
Tourism Organization office in Cyprus. |
