Akrotiri Salt Lake
The largest inland body of water in Cyprus, and it lies on a British base
The story
The Akrotiri Salt Lake is the largest inland body of water in Cyprus, covering about 10.6 square kilometers. It lies on the peninsula southwest of Limassol. In winter the lake fills with rainwater, and in summer it usually dries out. From November to March, thousands of flamingos and other migrating birds arrive here. In 2003 the United Kingdom added the lake and the nearby wetlands to the list of the Ramsar Convention. This is an international treaty on protecting wetlands. The lake lies in the British Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri. The United Kingdom kept this territory under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, when Cyprus became independent.
The Akrotiri Salt Lake is the largest inland body of water in Cyprus and a protected wetland on the Ramsar list. It lies in the British base of Akrotiri. This is one of the two sovereign bases; the other is Dhekelia. The United Kingdom kept both under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment.
Visiting
Best seen from November to March: in summer the lake is often dry. On the edge of Akrotiri village there is an environmental center with a birdwatching platform. According to Visit Cyprus, it is open on weekdays until 13:30 and entry is free; check the hours before you go. This is British base territory: do not enter fenced military zones.
Photos
Sources
- Ramsar Sites Information Service — Akrotiri (site no. 1375)
- Sovereign Base Areas Administration — Background
- Visit Cyprus (Deputy Ministry of Tourism) — Akrotiri Salt Lake
- Visit Cyprus — Akrotiri Environmental Education and Information Centre
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