Forum Private Greek School

Forum Private Greek School
2008-09
In the past, the Cyprus donkey was used from Cypriots to move from
one village to another because it was the most popular way… It was
the easiest way for the Cypriots to move or to carry their products
because they were working in the fields during the morning. Also, it
was an unusual way to carry a bride in Cypriot weddings. In these
cases, donkeys were decorated!!!!
Larnaca salt lake
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Larnaca Salt Lake lies to the west of the town of
Larnaca. It is a complex network of four salt lakes of
different sizes. The largest is lake „Aliki‟ followed by
lake „Orphani‟, lake „Soros‟ and lake „Spiro‟. They form
the second largest salt lake in Cyprus after the
Limassol Salt Lake.
It is considered one of the most important wetlands of
Cyprus and it has been declared a special protected
area under the Barcelona Convention and an Important
Bird Area (IBA). Besides its picturesque beauty, it is
one of the important migratory passages through
Cyprus. Among them, are 2-12, 000 flamingos which
spend their winter months there.
During the winter months the lake fills with water
whilst in the summer the water evaporates, leaving a
crust of salt and a haze of grey dust. Salt harvested
from this lake used to be one of the island's major
exports, being collected by donkeys, carried to the edge
of the lake and piled up into huge pyramidal heaps.
Limassol salt lake
Limassol salt lake (also known as Akrotiri salt
lake) is the largest inland body of water in
Cyprus. It lies to the south-east of the
sprawling city of Limassol and measures
10.65 km². Its lowest point is 2.7m below sea
level and at its deepest point reaches 1m.
 Geologists hypothesize the lake was formed
over the gradual joining of an offshore islet off
the southern coast of Cyprus.
 The lake itself is considered to be one of the
eastern Mediterranean‟s most important
wetlands. The fact that more than 50% of the
lake water level is less than 30cm deep attracts
thousands of wading birds to use it as a stopover
during the migration seasons.
 Birdlife International estimates that between
2,000 and 20,000 Greater Flamingos spend the
winter months on the lake.
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One of the natural wonders of our region is the
Avakas Gorge. Avakas Gorge can be found 16
km west of Paphos at the beginning of the
Akamas Peninsular. The spectacular gorge was
created over thousands of years by a turbulent
stream flowing over the limestone. It has carved
walls up to 30m high, narrowing dramatically at
one point, and sculptured beautiful and unique
rock formations
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The gorge is rich in flora and fauna with species
such as pine trees, cypress trees, juniper, wild fig
trees, ferns and oaks trees as well a wild flowers.
Animal life includes fruit bats, foxes, hares,
falcons, crows, night owls, butterflies and a large
number or reptiles, tadpoles and fresh water
snails.
Once into the gorge itself, the first 20 minutes
or so of the journey are relatively easy underfoot
with a clearly defined route that mostly keeps
you to the right-hand side of the stream and
considering there is no shade from the sun. It is
not until you reach the part of the gorge where
the two sides almost touch, that you will have to
practice your balancing skills as this is where you
will have to climb over slippery rocks and large
stones and this is also where it gets darker and a
little cold.
 Once the gorge opens out again, the walls are
higher and the impressive rock formations can
be seen. At the end of the gorge you have the
choice of taking a lengthy, at least two hours,
walk along the dirt road to Arodes or walk back
through the gorge.
 The best time to go explore the gorge is Spring
or Autumn as in the summer it is too hot unless
you go very early morning and in the winter, the
trickling stream becomes a torrent, making the
water levels too deep for safety.
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 “cedrus” is a genus of coniferous trees in the
plant family Panacea. There are four kinds of
Cedars with most familiar the one exists in
Lebanon.
 Cedar forests exist in Cyprus while in
Lebanon we can find all four types. They are
trees up to 30-40m with spiky scented wood,
thick ridged or square-cracked bark and
broad, level branches.
 Leaves stay on the tree from 3 to 6 years. It
doesn‟t need a lot of water to grow. The wood
is without any scent but when it is burnt it
gives out a special aroma.
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For this reason, it is the perfect material for
making cigar boxes so that cigars can keep
their characteristic scent.
The Eratosthenes Seamount is a seamount in the Eastern
Mediterranean about 100 km south of Cyprus. It is a large,
submerged massif, about 120 km long and 80 km wide. Its peak lies
at the depth of 690 m and it rises 2000 m above the surrounding
seafloor, which is located at the depth of up to 2,700 m and is a part
of the Eratosthenes Abyssal Plain. It is one of the largest features on
the Eastern Mediterranean seafloor. Much of the eventful tectonic
and oceanographic history of
the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is recorded in the sedimentary rocks of
the Eratosthenes Seamount
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Cyclamen cyprium, known as the Cyprus cyclamen, is
one of the 20 known species of cyclamen. It is
endemic to the island of Cyprus and has been selected
to represent the national flower of the country.
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The Cyprus cyclamen is a herb that grows from 7 to a
maximum of about 15 cm in height. It has simple,
heart-shaped, fleshy leaves, which have long petioles
and coarsely dentate margins.
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The undersurfaces of the leaves are characteristically
rich purple or crimson-purple. Flowers appear in
autumn, usually a little earlier than the leaves.
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The plant grows on shaded rocks, steep hillsides and
stream banks, usually under trees and shrubs at an
altitude of 50 to 1200 m.
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It flowers from September to January, but on occasion
flowering is prolonged to March. Cyprus cyclamen is
the only endemic of the three species of the genus
Cyclamen found in Cyprus and grows on most of the
island.
 The golden oak is an evergreen oak
species of Cyprus. Its common
English name refers to the golden
coloured lower surface of its leaves. It
belongs to the endemic flora of the
island and it is confined to the
geological complex of the Troodos
Mountains.
 In February 2006, the parliament of
Cyprus selected the golden oak to be
the country's national tree. Golden oak
is a much branched evergreen shrub of
small tree up to 10 m high. Due to its
short stature (with relation to other
oaks) it is sometimes referred to as the
dwarf oak. Its leaves are simple,
shining with serrated margins. They
are dark green above and golden or
brownish below.
 Golden oak is protected by the forest
law of Cyprus and large forest
expanses of the species have been
proposed for inclusion in the Natura
2000 ecological network of the
European Union.
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The Cyprus Moufflon or “Αgrino” is a type of
wild sheep that combines the beauty of a deer
and the agility of a goat and exists only in
Cyprus.
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We find them in small herds in the forest of
Pafos, in steep regions, where the dominant
vegetation is a type of low bush “latzia” that
also exists only in Cyprus. It is a protected
animal and its hunting is prohibited.
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The mature male “agrino” is strong and
beautiful, with big round horns. Its fur in winter
is dense and has the colour of coffee. During
summertime, its fur becomes short and shiny.
The length of its horns is between 45 and 60
cm. The female does not have horns.
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In the fall, after mating season, the animals form mixed
herds from 10 up to 20 and live together throughout
winter. In spring, when childbirth approaches, the
animals are separated in smaller groups. The small ones
are born in April. Each female usually gives birth to
one and more seldom two babies.
In 1878, the number of “agrinon” was decreased.
However, their hunting was continued and the animal
was in danger of extinction.
In 1937, it was calculated that only 15 animals were
left. In 1938 the law about hunting was modified in
order to provide more protection to these rare animals
and the following year, Pafos forest was declared as a
permanent protective region for these animals. Thus
“agrino” has been increasing once again.
“Agrino” has been honored repeatedly in its homeland
Cyprus. It has been the subject of stamps three times.
Also, it represents (in a freer version) the signal of
Cyprus Airways the Cypriot Airlines.
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Troodos is the taller mountain range of Cyprus
with tops that reach in height the 1951 metres.
With the narrow significance, Troodos is the
region near the top of “Chionistras”. The three
streets that connect the mountain with Nicosia,
Limasol and the Prodromos (a big village) meet
there. His extent covers the 2/3 of the island,
while it constitutes the sovereign morphological
and geological trait of Cyprus. Troodos is an
important pole of attraction of sightseers and
place of recreation. Also the exploitation of
coper which is found there, played a historical
decisive role in the economy and culture of
Cyprus. Troodos has rich flora which includes
big number of endemic plants. Sovereign
characteristic of vegetation are the pine trees.
 Characteristic element of fauna of
Troodos is the Cypriot moufflon
or Agrino
 Other species of mammals that live
in the mountain range of Troodos
are the fox, the hare, hedgehog as
well as number of small rodents
and bats. From the reptiles the
famous viper which is poisonous
deserves to be mentioned.
 Thanks to the climate, the natural
environment, the diversity of
landscape and its cultural heritage,
Troodos offers many occasions of
exercising, recreation and tourism.
 Nissi beach, is a well-known sandy beach
in the resort of Ayia Napa, Cyprus.The
sandy beach stretches for 500m and the
waters are clean enough for the beach to
have been awarded blue flag designation.[1]
The beach which runs the length of its
own cove, takes its name from the small
islet (Nissi - Νησί in Greek) located close
to the coast. The uninhabited islet is easily
reached on foot through the shallow waters
and its location provides a good shelter for
the rest of the beach. The islet is covered
with low level local vegetation.
Students Worked:
Power Point Presentation team
Research team
Marios Kouspis
Maria Papastavrou
Kiriaki Papaloizou
Maria Papastavrou
Stefani Dimosthenous
Stefani Dimosthenous
Philippos Gregoriou
Anna Georgiou
Aristodimos Spyrou
Paraskevi Hadjicosta
Rafaella Michael
Stelios Charalambides
Katerina Demetriou