Larnaca salt lake. Larnaca Salt Lake in Cyprus: Larnaca Salt Flamingo Lake

We are surrounded by amazing places. Some of them are famous from a historical point of view, others are interesting for their nature, while others have cultural value. And the Larnaca Salt Lake meets all three parameters. It is located next to the city and is called Aliki in Greek. You can only see the Larnaca Salt Lake for a few months of the year. In hot weather, all the water evaporates and the lake turns into layers of salt. At this time, Aliki is the only place where salt lies on the surface.

There is an interesting legend associated with the emergence of the lake. It says that Saint Lazarus lived here in Cyprus. And on the site of the lake in those days there were lush vineyards. One day Lazarus passed by them and, exhausted by thirst, asked the landlady of the field for a bunch of grapes to quench his thirst. But the stingy woman refused, saying that in her basket it was not grapes, but salt. Angered by the woman's greed, Lazarus cursed the place. Since then, the salt lake of Larnaca has been located there.

By the way, although scientists do not take this version of the origin of the lake seriously, they cannot come to a consensus on this matter. Some of them believe that on the site of the lake there used to be a sea bay, but a little later part of the land rose and a salt lake was formed. Others believe that there are huge reserves of salt under the lake, which are washed out thanks to heavy rains. And still others suggest that salt enters the lake through groundwater from the Mediterranean Sea.

Salt mining from this lake has long been a driving force for the Cyprus economy. The Venetians, who ruled the island in the 15th and 16th centuries, left behind a mass of documents indicating that the sale of salt acquired simply enormous proportions. Every year, more than seventy ships left the island, loaded to the brim with salt from Lake Larnaca.

Salt mining began during dry times, when the water from the lake evaporated. The silt surrounding the lake did not allow the use of any equipment for salt extraction, so all work was carried out only with the help of shovels and human hands. The mined salt was placed in large heaps and was stored in this way for several days. After that, she was loaded and sent to the island on donkeys. On the island she had to dry on the shore for at least another year.

Larnaca Salt Lake is famous not only for its rich salt deposits. On its banks is located one of the most revered shrines in Islam - in which the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad, Umm Haram, is buried. Not only Muslims, but also representatives of any other religion can visit the mosque.

In winter, when the salt is hidden under the water, here on the salt lake of Larnaca you can observe something amazing: thousands of migratory birds fly to the lake. Swans, wild ducks, pink flamingos - you name it. This is how the beautiful transformation of lifeless salt layers into a mirror surface filled with life and colors occurs.

Salt Lake is an important city that will be interesting for everyone to see, and this can be done not only as part of an excursion group, but also. Moreover, tourists feel no less comfortable here than migratory birds. There are special paths for them along the lake with benches on them. You can relax on them and admire the lake.

Is there a difference between a tourist and a traveler?

In my opinion, absolutely! A real traveler does not follow the beaten path in a crowd of onlookers greedy for quick impressions. Interesting details that a lazy eye will not see will not be hidden from him.

For a traveler, even a familiar route can become an exciting adventure filled with new emotions and impressions.

And today I am addressing travelers. I invite you for a walk around Salt Lake.

In addition to the wonderful landscapes, we will see an ancient Muslim shrine - the Hala Sultan mosque complex, and the final point of our journey will be the ancient Orthodox Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Angeloktistos (“Built by Angels”).

Aqueduct to Kamares

I propose to start our journey from the ancient aqueduct in the Kamares area. It’s hard not to notice it when driving in from the side.

It is no coincidence that the aqueduct is considered one of the main attractions of Larnaca. It was built in 1747 during Ottoman rule by order of the then governor (viceroy) of Larnaca AbuBakir Pashi.

The reason was an acute shortage of fresh water in the city. There is evidence that Bakir Pasha financed the construction from personal funds. Consisting of 75 arches, the aqueduct, built in Roman style, transported water over a distance of about 9.7 km from the source to the city center.

In addition to the above-ground part, there was also a long underground tunnel. This engineering and architectural structure was a real innovation of that time.

The aqueduct was in operation until 1939. The ancient building gave its name to this area of ​​the city, since in translation from Greek “kamares” means “ arches».

From the aqueduct, a 4 km long walking route along the Salt Lake begins. But I suggest leaving your car in the parking lot near the aqueduct and switching to a bicycle in order to lengthen the route and make it even more interesting!

Where does the bike come from, you ask? You can rent it without any problems!

Hiking trails

So, having saddled our iron friend and noticed the brass plaque on the curb declaring that this trail is of cultural value, we begin to move along the sandy path along the Salt Lake. Of course, the best time for such a walk would be winter, when the lake is filled with water and many birds fly here for the winter.

With a total area of ​​about 2.2 sq. km, the lake becomes a haven for more than 85 species of waterfowl with an approximate population of 20 - 38 thousand individuals. This is one of the world's important bird migration channels.

The most remarkable of the birds that fly here are, of course, pink flamingos. They spend the winter months on the lake, feeding on a type of shrimp that breeds in salt water. Flamingos live an average of 40 years, and it can be said that the Larnaca Salt Lake is their favorite resort.

Other important inhabitants of Salt Lake are gray crane,sea ​​plover, stilt, avdotka, spur lapwing and Cyprus Warbler. Ornithologists, like birds, gather in flocks near the Salt Lake and study the lives of their charges. Since 1997, the territory of the lake has been under state protection.

Hala Sultan

If you take a break from watching the birds and look at the opposite side of the lake, you will immediately see the Hala Sultan mosque complex. This is where we are headed.

While driving, the minaret of the mosque will always be in your field of vision, so it is impossible to stray from the route.

By going around the lake to the left, you will soon reach Hala Sultan. Free admission. The complex is open from Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 17:00. Friday is a day off.

The Hala Sultan complex consists of a mosque, mausoleum, minaret, cemetery and residential quarters for men and women. According to the most popular historical version, the complex was built on the site of the death and burial of Umm Haram, who was the aunt of the Prophet Muhammad and the wife of the then successful commander Ubad ibn Samit. During the Arab raids on Cyprus in 647-649, Umm Haram followed the army.
Being quite old, the woman fell from her mule and died.

The mosque complex was not erected all at once, but in stages. First, in 1760, a mausoleum was built, and in 1816, the mosque itself with minaret and other structures. Above the entrance gate there is an inscription dated March 4, 1813 with the monogram of Sultan Mahmud ΙΙ, which reads: “The Hala Sultan Mosque was built by the blessed of God the great Ottoman Governor of Cyprus.”

Despite the fact that the mosque has not been operational for a long time, it is still one of the five most important shrines in Islam.

To the temple "built by angels"

After visiting the mosque and having a little rest, you can move on.

You need to drive about another 6 km to the village of Kiti. Be careful, now you have to move along the road where cars drive. I assure you, there is nothing dangerous in this! Cypriot drivers drive very carefully; it is enough to follow the rules of caution.

So, following the signs, you need to go through 2 roundabouts, at the T-junction turn left, then right and straight ahead, without turning, go to the gas station Petrolina(on right). Then turn right and you are there. In front of you is the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary Angeloktistos (“ Built by angels»).

What is so remarkable about this small church? Is it true that it was built by angels?

The Church of Panagia Angeloktistos was built in the 11th century on the ruins of an early Christian basilica from the 5th century. The basilica was semicircular and its dome has survived to this day as part of the church altar.

At the end of the 13th century, a Byzantine chapel was added to the church, which now forms the main façade.

According to legend, the inhabitants of ancient Kition, fleeing the Arab invaders, moved to Kiti for greater safety and decided to build a temple here in honor of the Mother of God.

When the builders who were working on the construction of the temple came to the construction site in the morning, they discovered that the foundation had been moved to another place. People decided that it was the angels who suggested a better place for construction and built a church there.

The mosaic preserved from the 5th century depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child in her arms and the archangels Michael and Gabriel, reminiscent of the participation of angels in the construction of the temple. In addition to the priceless mosaic, the temple contains several more unique icons dating from the 13th-16th centuries.

Situated in a park under the shade of ancient trees, the church serves as the main venue for all village Christian celebrations, including ceremonies and baptisms. Don’t be lazy and walk around the church, along the low stone fence. Notice how organically “woven in” are the elements preserved from previous buildings.

The church is open to visitors daily from 07:00 to 18:30. On Sunday from 09:00.

After having a snack, we set off on the way back.

At this point in the journey, the soul is usually full and satisfied, which cannot be said about the body! You may not have enough strength for the return journey, it’s clearly time to refresh yourself! Next to the temple there is a very democratic cafe called Tamala.

You will definitely find something to your liking in it. After a bike ride, not only the taste, but also the serving size will be an important indicator. Don't worry, Tamala's prices are reasonable and the portions are good, so you can recharge without breaking your wallet.

I think it won’t be difficult for you to find your way back to the car. With this I will end my story and wish good luck to those who are planning to repeat my journey.

One of the most interesting features of Larnaca is noticeable already when leaving the airport. It's big salt Lake area about 2 sq. km. In winter it fills with water and attracts a huge number of birds, and in summer it dries up, exposing the sun to a thick, salty crust that crunches underfoot. On the shore of the lake, among palm trees and cypresses, stands the minaret of one of the main shrines of Islam - Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. Let's take a walk through this unusual, seemingly snow-covered landscape.

There are actually four salt lakes near Larnaca - three small and one large. Their snowy whiteness looks very unusual against the backdrop of the October heat and scorching sun.

About 85 species of birds come to the lake in search of food during the winter months. The most interesting sight is the pink flamingos - many animal photographers come here specifically to take impressive shots. Alas, all this happens in winter.

On the opposite bank you can see Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, and to the right is one of the recently installed and not yet launched wind generators.

Closer to the shore, the salty crust is still very thin.

Salt crystals are very similar to snowdrifts and creak underfoot in the same way.

If you wish, you can break off a large piece for yourself and bring it home - that's free bath salts!

Salt mining was carried out on the lake for many years. The salt was collected in baskets and, with the help of donkeys, transported closer to the shore, where it was dumped in large, white piles. Over time, manual labor became too expensive, and mining was stopped.

The depth of the lake in winter hardly exceeds a meter, so it is not surprising that in summer all the water evaporates or goes underground.

Someone was clearly imitating Neil Armstrong.

But let us now cross the lake and approach the fourth Islamic shrine after Mecca, Medina and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Legend has it that at this place the elderly aunt of the prophet Mohammed (Umm Haram or in Turkish - Hala Sultan) fell from a mule and broke her neck.

The aunt was buried with full honors, a mausoleum was built over her grave, and later, in 1817, a mosque was erected.

Since then, pilgrims from all over the world have come to worship the shrine in this rather small mosque.

I must say that this was the first time I visited inside the mosque. Shoes, as is customary, had to be left outside. However, walking barefoot on the cool carpets was quite pleasant.

This rug is located in a niche facing Mecca - the mihrab.

Auntie's mausoleum, which can be walked around thanks to a narrow gallery.

They say that after the division of the island into Greek and Turkish parts, the mosque ceased to be operational. It is quite possible, since there was no one inside except us.

Finally, I want to show you a panorama of the salt lake. Click to open in a new window and in full size. And in the next part we will go on a trip around the island. See you later!

One of the first attractions encountered on the way of tourists arriving in Cyprus is Salt (or Salt) Lake, as it is called in Greek, Aliki, which is located along the road leading from Larnaca airport. Twice a year, during the seasonal migration of birds, the waters of the lake become a haven for pink flamingos, white herons and black swans. A ghost lake that disappears in summer. And in winter it captivates with the extraordinary beauty of its mirror surface.

Aliki is a natural phenomenon that attracts scientists. And quite recently this lake was a place of economic importance - salt was mined here.

The road leading to the airport divides the lake into two parts. Most of it is located on the right side. The area of ​​Salt Lake is five square kilometers, and its perimeter is more than eleven kilometers. The lake is located below sea level by an average of two and a half meters.

The history of the appearance of the lake is interesting. About a million years ago, on the site of today's Larnaca airport and lake there was a sea bay. Later, under the influence of surf and current, a sand bank formed in the southern part of the bay. Over time, it turned into a corner of land. At the same time, tectonic shifts occurred, as a result of which the land plain rose, and the sea, on the contrary, sank.

The accuracy of this scientific assumption is also confirmed by archaeological excavations carried out in 1971 in the Hala Sultan Tekke area. An entire port city was discovered, the existence of which dates back to the 11th century BC. Copper anchors of ships from various countries, the port itself, built in the shape of a rectangle, are indisputable evidence of the origin of Aliki: part of the sea bay separated from the sea and formed a lake.

Scientists do not have a consensus on the theory of the origin of salt in the lake. Some of them believe that the source is huge underground reserves of mineral salt. Rainwater that fills the lake in the winter months helps wash these reserves to the surface. According to studies, mineral salt deposits exceed eight million tons.

Other scientists who have studied this problem argue that the salt is mainly formed from seawater entering the lake. Between the sea and the lake there are fossilized passages that allow water from the sea to flow into the lake. The correctness of this scientific version is proven by chemical analyzes of water from the lake, which are in many ways similar to sea water. Water does not stop penetrating into the lake in the summer; it simply evaporates due to high temperatures.

For many centuries, the Salt Lake played a significant role in the island's economy. Historical documents from the time of the dominance of the Venetians (15-16 centuries) note that the sale of salt abroad was carried out in large quantities: more than seventy ships loaded with Aliki salt were sent annually from Cyprus to Venice. The salt trade was one of the main sources of income for the Venetian state.

Salt was collected until the end of the last century. The collection was carried out in the summer months, when the water in the lake dried up and the salt appeared on the surface. The lake area was divided into sections between workers. A path half a meter wide was laid to the lake, along which the salt collectors and donkeys themselves moved. These cute animals played an important role in this process and were an indispensable means of transporting salt. The path was covered with bedding, as there was black mud under the layer of salt. It was this dirt that did not allow the use of mechanical methods - salt was collected in an almost primitive way: with a shovel. This process continued for two weeks.
The salt was then placed in baskets and loaded onto the donkeys. Already outside the lake, salt was poured into large piles. This took almost four more weeks. Before being sold, the salt had to remain in a large pyramid-shaped pile for about a year.
Approximately one hundred workers were employed in collecting the salt. Pay depended on the amount of product collected. There were two categories of quality of the resulting salt: good and highest. Salt production was a state monopoly. Anastasios Stasis cites data according to which, for example, in 1982, ten thousand tons of salt were collected, worth almost 750,000 pounds.

Today salt is no longer collected. This is largely due to the pollution of the lake and surrounding areas. However, the Salt Lake continues to play an important role in the life of Larnaca. Only now it is no longer economic, but aesthetic. State interest is now expressed not in the amount of income received, but in the desire to preserve this natural phenomenon.
Many tourists and local residents gather along its shores in winter to admire the almost motionless surface of water, reflecting shapes, colors and shadows; on the graceful flamingos that have chosen this place for their wintering grounds. And on hot days you can hide from the sun in the eucalyptus grove that lies near Aliki.

Environmentalists have sounded the alarm more than once about the state of the lake - at the moment it is causing certain concerns. Government agencies have developed a program to protect the ecological environment of the area. Only its consistent implementation will make it possible to preserve the Salt Lake - an amazing decoration of Larnaca created by nature itself.

According to legend, vineyards grew on the site of the current lake many centuries ago. Why is there a salt lake here now? One wealthy peasant had abundant vineyards here. One day he collected a rich harvest, loaded it into wicker baskets, closed it with the same wicker lid and went home satisfied. On the way he met a tired traveler. The heat was terrible, and the traveler asked the peasant to give him some grapes to quench his thirst. The peasant felt very sorry for sharing the grapes, and since the basket was covered with a lid, he decided to lie. “I don’t have any grapes,” he said. "What's in your basket then?" - the traveler asked him (and it was a saint). “Salt,” answered the peasant. After that, he returned home, opened the basket, and there was only salt. The entire crop simply disappeared. And in place of the vineyards a salt lake formed.

The south of Cyprus is doing a great job with the environment. The Greens have found that homeowners around the Larnaca salt lake are dumping sewage waste directly into it. A delegation of environmentalists who arrived at the site discovered entire bundles of illegal pipelines. The environmentalist party made a corresponding statement to local authorities, but at the same time doubts that the problem can be dealt with in the near future.

History of Larnaca Salt Lake

One of the first attractions that tourists coming to Cyprus learn about is the Larnaca Salt Lake. The fact is that Lake Aliki, as the locals call it, is located next to the road leading from Larnaca airport. Twice a year, the waters of Larnaca become a haven for many birds: pink flamingos, black swans, herons. At this time, the beauty of Larnaca’s nature is amazingly emphasized. The lake can disappear in summer, which is why it is often called a ghost. But in winter the lake surprises with the beauty of the surface covered with ice.
Recently, salt was mined in Aliki, so the lake was an important place, playing an economic role in the life of Cyprus. To date, salt mining has ceased.

Of particular interest is the history of the emergence of the Salt Lake in Larnaca. About a million years ago, there was a bay where the airport and lake are now located. Later, a sand bank appeared in the southern part of the bay due to the constant surf and current. Soon, the sand bank became part of the land. At this time, active tectonic shifts occurred, which led to the lowering of the sea and the rise of the land plain. This fact was confirmed by archaeological excavations that were carried out in Larnaca in 1971. During the excavations, it was possible to find a port city that existed in the 11th century BC. The copper anchors of various ships and the port are evidence of the origins of Aliki. After all, part of the sea bay could separate from the large sea and form the small Salt Lake of Larnaca.

Versions of salt formation in the lake

Scientists do not know how the formation of salt began. Some believe that this was caused by reserves of mineral salt preserved underground. Due to rainwater, reserves can be washed to the surface. Scientists were able to establish that the volume of Aliki’s mineral salt deposits exceeds 8 million tons.

Other scientists are confident that the salt is formed due to seawater penetrating into the lake. There are petrified passages between the sea and the lake, allowing sea water to flow into the lake. This version is confirmed by chemical analyzes of water obtained from the Salt Lake of Larnaca, because its composition resembles that of the sea. Therefore, the nature of Larnaca attracts not only with its beauty, but also with numerous mysteries that many want to solve.

For many centuries, Aliki has played an important role in the economy of both the city of Larnaca and the rest of Cyprus. In the 15th and 16th centuries, large amounts of salt were sold abroad. From here, more than 70 ships with lake salt were sent to Venice every year. Salt collection in Lake Larnaca was carried out in the summer, when the water dried up and nothing interfered with the extraction. As a result, for many centuries the nature of this area was not only praised, but also salt was extracted from the amazingly beautiful lake.

Current position of the Larnaca Salt Lake

Salt collection stopped at the end of the last century and salt production has not been carried out to this day. This is explained by the fact that the nature of the area still remains beautiful, although both the lake and the surrounding areas are polluted. Thus, the Salt Lake in Larnaca plays only an aesthetic role. The authorities are trying to preserve the natural phenomenon so that tourists can admire the beauty of Larnaca’s nature. Many travelers who are able to appreciate nature gather near the shores of Aliki in winter, and in summer they try to hide in the shade of the eucalyptus grove located next to the lake.
Larnaca attracts many tourists who are confident that Aliki remains a natural phenomenon.