Nature & Wildlife
Sea Turtles
Cyprus is one of the last important nesting sites for sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Two species nest on the beaches:
- Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas): Main nesting site Lara Beach (Akamas) in the south and Alagadi Beach near Kyrenia in the north.
- Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta): More common, nests on several beaches of the south and north coast.
Nesting season: June–August. The females come ashore at night, dig nests, and lay 80–120 eggs. After 45–60 days, the tiny young hatch and crawl into the sea — a moving natural spectacle.
The Lara Bay Turtle Conservation Project on the Akamas Peninsula protects the nests and sometimes offers guided night walks. In the north, the SPOT (Society for Protection of Turtles) organizes similar programs at Alagadi Beach.
Tipp
If you are at a turtle beach between June and August: No lights on the beach, do not dig holes, remove towels and loungers in the evening. Light disorients the hatching young — they crawl not to the sea but to the light and die.
Flamingos & Salt Lakes
Every winter (November–March), Cyprus's salt lakes transform into pink spectacles: thousands of flamingos rest on their journey between Africa and Europe.
- Larnaca Salt Lake: The most famous — right next to the airport! Up to 12,000 flamingos. Nearby is the beautiful Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque.
- Akrotiri Salt Lake: Near Limassol, at Lady's Mile Beach. Often more flamingos than in Larnaca, less touristy.
- Oroklini Lake: Smaller, north of Larnaca. A good birdwatching spot for herons, pelicans, and stilts.
In summer, the lakes dry up completely and become white salt flats — a surreal sight.
Troodos Ecosystem
The Troodos Mountains are a geological wonder: a 90-million-year-old piece of ocean floor (ophiolite complex) uplifted above sea level by tectonic forces. Geologists from around the world come here to study the unique rock formations.
Flora
- Black Pine (Pinus nigra): The dominant tree species in the higher Troodos, some over 500 years old
- Cyprus Cedar (Cedrus brevifolia): An endemic species, found only in the Cedar Valley (Koilada ton Kedron) west of Olympus. One of the rarest trees in the Mediterranean.
- Endemic Orchids: 30+ orchid species, several of which are found only in Cyprus — in spring (March–April) the slopes bloom in all colors
- Wildflowers: In spring, the vegetation explodes: anemones, tulips, cyclamen, wild gladioli
Fauna
- Cypriot Mouflon (Agrino): The emblem of the island — a wild mountain sheep found only in Cyprus. Nearly extinct, recovered to about 3,000 animals through conservation programs. Best seen in the Paphos Forest.
- Eleonora's Falcon: Breeds on the cliffs of Cape Greco and Akamas. Elegant and rare.
- Cats: Cyprus is not called the "Island of Cats" for nothing. Legend has it that Saint Helena brought 1,000 cats to the island to control the snake population. Today, hundreds of thousands of semi-wild cats live on the island.
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