Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Landscape near Latsi on the Akamas Peninsula
Stefan Auth / getty IMAGES ©
National Parks & Reserves
The upgrading of natural areas to national-park status has steadily increased. The declared
list of parks in South Cyprus includes Akamas National Forest Park, Pafos region; Troö-
dos National Park, declared in 1992; Cape Greco and the Peninsula Bay, east of Agia
Napa; Athalassa National Forest Park, west of Nicosia (Lefkosia); Polemidia National
Forest Park, near Lemesos; Rizoelia National Forest Park, near Larnaka; and Tripylos
Natural Reserve, east of Pafos, which includes the wonderful Cedar Valley.
There's also one marine reserve: Lara Toxeftra Reserve, off the west coast near Lara,
Pafos region, established to protect marine turtles and their nesting beaches.
In North Cyprus, 150 sq km of the Karpas (Kırpaşa) Peninsula has been declared a na-
tional park. Environmentalists were successful in having the vulnerable and precious area
protected from development. Rare marine turtles that nest in the beaches on both sides of
the peninsula are now benefiting from this decision.
