TROODOS NATIONAL PARK

Called "Troodos National Forest Park" (Εθνικό Δασικό Πάρκο Τροόδους/Ethniko Dasiko Parko Troodous, Troodos National Forest Park) or "Troodos Geopark" (Γεωπάρκο Τροόδους/Geoparko Troodos, Troodos Geopark), this 1,370 ^km2 protected area covers around 45% of the surface of the Troodos massif. It includes the most mountainous part of the island, with Mount Olympus (1,952 m above sea level), the Troodos ski resort and the Troodos leisure base. The park is bordered by the villages of Platres to the south, Prodromos to the west, Kakopetria to the north and Amiantos to the east. Since its creation in 2015, it has been on Unesco's tentative list for World Heritage listing for its geological wealth. In particular, it is home to an abundance of ophiolites, rocks with veins reminiscent of "snakeskin"(ophis in ancient Greek). They bear witness to the formation of Cyprus by volcanic eruption 92 million years ago. The Troodos Visitors' Centre can arrange guided tours with geologists, particularly on the Artemis Trail, along which several deposits of green serpentine, typical of ophiolites, can be seen. The park also encompasses ancient and very important deposits of copper (which gave Cyprus its name), pigments (such as Cyprus umber) and asbestos (huge rehabilitated site near Amiantos).

Green lung. The park is also the green lung of Cyprus and part of the European Union's Natura 2000 network. It is mainly covered by Calabrian/Turkish pines (Pinus brutia), Cyprus black pines (Pinus nigra pallasiana) and junipers that grow as far as Mount Olympus. There are also riparian forests (plane trees, alders, willows, tamarisk, oleanders...) along springs and streams, such as the one around the Caledonia waterfalls, near Platres. The park also boasts the highest concentration of endemic species on the island (92 of the 143 recorded), including the Cyprus golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) and flowers such as the Troodos orcanette (Onosma troodi), Troodos calament (Acinos troodi) and Troodos alyssum (Alyssum troodi). In terms of fauna, the park is home to the Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion), foxes, reptiles such as the Cyprus snake (Hierophis cypriensis) and numerous birds: endangered birds of prey such as Bonelli's eagle and the griffon vulture, as well as small endemic species such as the Cyprus traquet (Oenanthe cypriaca) and the Cyprus warbler (Sylvia melanothorax).