Paralimni Lake
A seasonal Natura 2000 lake in the Famagusta district: the “lakes” topic on the exam
The story
Paralimni Lake is a shallow, slightly salty lake on the western edge of the town of Paralimni, in the Famagusta district. It is seasonal: in winter it fills with water after the rains, and in summer it dries up, leaving water only in a few small ponds. Drainage works under British rule and later greatly changed the lake’s water regime. The lake is part of Natura 2000, the European network of protected natural areas, and in 2015 it was declared a special area of conservation. It holds the largest populations of the Cyprus grass snake, which lives only in Cyprus. The spur-winged lapwing nests here too: this is one of its main nesting sites on the island.
Paralimni Lake is a seasonal lake in the Famagusta district protected under Natura 2000; don’t confuse it with Oroklini Lake in the Larnaca district. Among the wetlands in the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus, it is the second largest after the Larnaca Salt Lakes.
Visiting
Under a 2022 order, cars, quad bikes and motorcycles may not enter the protected area. Flying drones over the area and lighting fires in it or near it are also forbidden. It is best seen from the edge, from the streets on the eastern shore. There is water mainly in winter and spring; in summer the lake is almost dry.
Sources
- Natura 2000 Standard Data Form CY3000008 «Limni Paralimniou» (EEA; data from the Cyprus Department of Environment)
- Σχέδιο Διαχείρισης της περιοχής CY3000008 «Λίμνη Παραλιμνίου» (Τμήμα Περιβάλλοντος / ΕΚΒΥ, 2011) — natura2000.cy
- Κ.Δ.Π. 137/2015 — Μέτρα προτεραιότητας για την ΕΖΔ «Λίμνη Παραλιμνίου – CY3000008»
- Κ.Δ.Π. 88/2022 — Διάταγμα διαχείρισης και προστασίας της ΕΖΔ «Λίμνη Παραλιμνίου – CY3000008»
This text was written by AI from open sources. An expert will still check it. Found a mistake? Write to us. Support
