Flamingos are unusually beautiful and graceful birds. Their plumage can be white, pink and even bright red. The graceful bird with thin legs and a long neck has a very massive beak. But this should not be surprising, because birds need it vitally - with its help, flamingos filter water and get insect larvae, algae, and small crustaceans.
The height of flamingos arriving in Cyprus is from 1m 20cm to 1m 50cm. Weight is no more than 4 kg. Despite the fact that they like to settle near very salty lakes, where in the absence of fish, Artemia crustaceans multiply with might and main, they need fresh water. They not only drink it, but also wash the salt off their feet. Also, in addition to flamingos, a huge number of other waterfowl live near the lake, which tourists can see.
Where do flamingos spend the winter?
Flamingos are associated with Cyprus with warm winters. They appear before the New Year holidays. At this time they can often be found on the salt lakes in Akrotira and Larnaca, as well as on reservoirs in and Oroklini. Their total number reaches 15,000, and in some years up to 20,000 individuals. They fly most often from Turkey and southern Italy. At the end of February, some couples have chicks.
Salt Lake, or as it is more often called, Salt Lake, is a single name for four small ones connected to each other - Aliki, Soros, Spiro and Orphan. It is located not so far from Larnaca, next to the road. In addition to flamingos, rare birds such as white herons and black swans fly here twice a year. During the intense summer heat, the lake dries up. Since ancient times, salt has been mined on its territory. It was collected until the end of the last century. Now this place is reserved only for birds.
Appearance of the lake
The formation of Salt Lake has long been associated with legend. In the old days, in its place there were fields with vineyards. A man passing by who lived on the island was very thirsty and asked the owner for some grapes to quench his thirst. But the greedy man did not want to treat him. And then the saint performed a miracle - and turned this entire land into a salt lake, which dried up during the dry season.
One way or another, salt fishing was well organized on the lake. Its scale was such that considerable volumes of production were exported, which brought a lot of money to the Cyprus economy for many centuries. The documents of the Venetians indicate that more than 70 ships loaded with salt regularly made voyages to Venice. However, after what happened in 1974, the country was split into two parts, as a result, salt production gradually disappeared. Now there is only a landmark left here, which is visited by many tourists.
Territory of rare birds
For a better overview and bird watching, there is a path along the lake, there are small closed gazebos and other secluded places where you can hide so as not to scare the birds. Flocks and individual pairs of white-fronted geese, small gulls, red ducks, spoonbills and beautiful swans - watching their lives will not only provide a lot of information material, but will also lift your spirits. In Cyprus, flamingos are protected, and their habitats are under state protection. In addition to the Salt Lakes and ponds, birds can be seen at the Limassol Zoo. For better observation, it is recommended to purchase good optics, this way you can see the wild inhabitants of the lake in all details.
When ornithologists were counting and studying the behavior of birds in 2015, they noticed a flamingo in the Salt Lake, near the Akrotiri military base, whose plumage was completely black. They took photographs of this bird and videotaped it. The color of flamingos' plumage depends on the food they eat. For example, the pink color is due to brine shrimp, their usual food. In zoos, carrots and sweet peppers are added to their food to ensure color stability. Scientists associate the appearance of black flamingos with a large amount of melanin, a special pigment that affects the color of feathers.
How to get to the lake
Salt Lake is located five kilometers from Larnaca, a famous resort town, and a little away from the airport. You can get to it in different ways:
- as part of an organized excursion, by bus or car;
- independently, on;
- on ;
- on a regular bus.
Public transport in the city is very well developed, the schedule is regular, so you can easily get to the lake by bus. However, it is necessary to find out the route of a particular bus in advance, since at most stops, except for the final ones, only the transport number is indicated. The best option is to ask the driver directly about the route immediately after boarding. You should also know that at many stops buses stop only on request, so there is no need to be shy; it is better to notify the driver in advance about the exit.
No less often, Salt Lake is visited as part of an excursion. Accompanying people can tell quite a lot of interesting things about its history, and tourists can be sure that they will not miss anything interesting.
A taxi is one of the best ways to reach the lake quickly and comfortably. All taxis in Cyprus are equipped with the latest equipment and air conditioning, and the drivers are also friendly and always ready to help. However, the cost of the trip is quite high, which must be taken into account when planning your budget.
A rented car is the best option for traveling to Salt Lake. Getting a rental car is quite easy, and the speed of travel is much higher, which allows you to see many more attractions and get to them faster.
In any case, after arrival, tourists can follow a walking route that runs along the entire lake. Along its entire length there are benches and viewing platforms where you can take a couple of picturesque photographs.
What else can you see nearby?
Not far from Salt Lake is the religious complex of Hala Sultan Tekke, which dates back to Ottoman architecture. This is a very significant shrine for all Muslims. On the territory there are a mausoleum, a mosque and a minaret, as well as buildings for women and men, employees and dervish pilgrims.
To the east of the mosque, fragments of a settlement dating back to the Bronze Age were discovered. Ceramics of the Mycenaean period and objects made of ivory were found. In 1978, a treasure consisting of 23 gold objects was found near Hala Sultan Tekke. Now these finds are presented in the exhibition of the Turkish fort in Larnaca.
Nearby there is another archaeological site - an ancient aqueduct. With its help, the city was supplied with water until a modern water supply system was laid in the 20th century.
Conclusion
A trip to the Salt Lake to see the wonderful sight of pink (most often) flamingos and other birds standing in the water, of which there are about 85 species in these places, is usually combined with a visit to other attractions located nearby. Some of them reflect a specific historical period in Cypriot life, so it is best to plan your visit in advance. The beauty of this unusual nature, the caring attitude of people towards birds is a guarantee that for a long time people will come here to admire the beautiful landscapes and learn new facts about life in Cyprus in the distant past.
Larnaca Salt Lake is one of those attractions that combine an interesting history, beautiful nature and are of cultural value for the island of Cyprus.
History of the lake
Larnaca Salt Lake is located near the city of Larnaca, which is pronounced Aliki in Greek. You can only see it in the cold months, because in the hot season the water from the lake evaporates, and salt layers remain in its place.
The history of the appearance of the lake is overgrown with legends, one of which tells that in its place there were once huge vineyards, which were managed by a stingy mistress. At the request of a passing bishop, St. She refused Lazar's request to quench his thirst with a bunch of grapes, citing the fact that there was salt in her basket. Lazarus was angry with the woman for her greed and sent a curse on the place. Since then, a salt lake has appeared here.
Researchers and historians do not have a unanimous opinion about the origin of the lake: some believe that in its place there was a sea bay, and the reservoir was formed after the land was raised, others talk about underground salt deposits that rise with the water after rains, others believe that salt comes from underground labyrinths along with the waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Larnaca Salt Lake: description
The lake itself consists of 4 reservoirs: a large one - Aliki - and 3 small ones - Orfani, Soros and Spiro. They are all connected by small isthmuses.
Its area is 2.2 square meters. km, maximum depth is about 1 m.
In the summer and autumn seasons, the shiny, snow-white surface, shimmering with lights, looks amazing and very impressive. The salt drifts are very reminiscent of snow, and when you walk, they seem to creak.
Salt mining
For many years, the extraction and development of salt reserves served as the basis of the island's economy. According to historical data, during the years of trade, 70 ships left from here annually, loaded only with salt: in those days it was considered an important commodity.
The collection of salt in the lakes of Cyprus continued until the mid-20th century: in the summer months it was collected in dry form after the lake dried up. All mining was done by hand due to the surrounding muddy shoreline. Using shovels, workers dug out salt, put it in baskets, and transported it to land on donkeys and unloaded it onto the ground. Before shipping, the layers had to dry for another year.
Now the collection has been stopped for several reasons: due to severe pollution, and also due to the fact that the Larnaca Salt Lake has received the status of a natural reserve.
Cypriot environmentalists have created a program to protect local animals and birds and preserve the lake. In winter, several thousand birds, about 85 species, fly here.
The most beautiful are pink flamingos, which cover the landscape with a bright glowing cloud.
Larnaca city: history and attractions
Larnaca is an ancient town, famous not only for the location of a major international airport in Cyprus, but also for its history. It was founded back in the 10th century. BC e. grandson of Noah and was called Kition, which is mentioned in the Bible. He gained fame thanks to the life and death of the resurrected Saint Lazarus, over whose grave the Church of St. Lazarus was built, where his relics are kept. According to one version of historians, the name of the city comes from the word “larnaca”, which means “tomb”.
During the reign of the Phoenicians, a large trading port operated here, connecting Western Europe and the East, and state representative offices of many states operated here. Now the port is used only for mooring private ships and yachts.
The city of Larnaca (Cyprus) is also considered the birthplace of the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Citium, who became the founder of the school of Stoicism in the capital of Greece, Athens.
Popular Larnaca attractions that are included in many Cyprus excursions:
- Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque;
- Church of St. Lazarus;
- salt lake;
- the ancient Neolithic settlement of Khirokitiya (7-4 thousand BC), discovered in 1998, consists of a complex of round limestone buildings for various purposes;
- Kamares Aqueduct, built in the 18th century. to provide water to the city.
Muslim shrine
On the shore of the Larnaca Salt Lake there is a Muslim shrine - the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque, built in 1816. It is famous for the fact that Umm Haram, a relative of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried here. Any tourist can enter it.
In 649, when Arab troops came to these lands, Umm Haram came with them and preached Islam among the local residents. At the site of the future mosque, her mule stumbled, the woman fell and was broken, hitting the rocks. They buried her with honor on the shore and installed a stone block weighing 15 tons, which, according to legend, was brought by angels.
It is interesting that the mosque is considered a shrine not only by Muslims, but also by local Christians who come here to pray for healing. This is believed to help people recover from illness.
Hala Sultan Tekke is a large complex that includes a mosque, a minaret and a mausoleum, a cemetery, and residential buildings for the overnight stay of traveling dervishes. Guest buildings are designed separately for men and women and are located at a distance.
You can get to the mosque by car along the B4 road from Larnaca, driving 5 km. Entrance is free, you can listen to interesting stories from the guide. On Muslim holidays, services are held here, during which tourists can disturb the believers. Before entering, you must take off your shoes and wash your feet in the fountain; women are advised to cover their heads.
Church of Saint Lazarus
According to legend, Saint Lazarus, who fled Bethany from the Jewish high priests, was elevated to the rank of Bishop of Kitia in Larnaca. Under his leadership, the first church was erected, where services were held. After the death of Lazarus, they buried him here, and the church was renamed Larnax. In its place in 890, Emperor Leo IV of Byzantium erected a new temple, which was subsequently destroyed and rebuilt several times. After the rule of the Turks in 1589, it was bought by the Orthodox Church, in 1750 an open gallery was built, and in 1857 - a bell tower with 4 tiers.
In the 18th century, the church was decorated with a new wooden iconostasis with carvings and 120 icons made by the master Hadji Savvas Taliodoros.
During the restoration in the 70s of the twentieth century, stone tombs with the relics of St. were found under the altar. Lazarus, now they are displayed in a silver shrine inside the temple. The church building consists of three naves and has 3 domes.
You can get to the church from Larnaca airport by bus number 446.
Beaches of Larnaca
Tourists coming to Larnaca may be interested not only in the Larnaca Salt Lake and excursions, but also in the local sandy beaches. The sea here is clean and shallow, hotels and the tourist area are located east of the town and are cheaper compared to the popular resorts of Cyprus.
Main beaches:
- Mackenzie - located near the old airport in Cyprus, has a large area, is well equipped with sun loungers, there are bars and cafes, but you need to get there either by taxi or on your own;
- Finikoudes - located in the city itself, from which it is separated by a beautiful palm alley. This is a favorite place for walking and relaxing for tourists and locals. You can get here by regular buses;
- Dhekelia is the epicenter of tourist recreation; you get here along the road of the same name, along which there are Larnaca hotels of various levels.
How to get to Larnaca and the lake
Tourists can visit the Salt Lake and other attractions of Larnaca as part of excursions around Cyprus or on their own, getting here by car. Along the reservoir there are specially laid paths for visitors with benches for rest. Tourists relaxing on them will receive a lot of impressions from the view of the lake, birds flying or landing, and natural landscapes, especially picturesque at sunset.
You can get to the lake by car, leaving Larnaca towards the airport along the B4 highway, or by taxi, since public transport does not reach here.
I was very happy to be in season to see the great pink flamingos at Salt Lake.
Flamingos on the Salt Lake in Larnaca: when?
When does that very cherished time come and flamingos fly to the lake in Larnaca? Exactly when it is off-season for swimming in Cyprus - in winter. Flamingos arrive in December and fly away around the end of February - March. By the way, the Salt Lake near the airport in Larnaca is not the only place where you can see them, it’s just more famous and easier to get there, and there are several lakes where flamingos winter in Cyprus.Is there some secret about the time of day? I don't think so. I have been to Salt Lake several times, and the birds always behaved differently: they were sometimes closer, sometimes further from the shore, sometimes on one side of the lake, sometimes on the other.
How to get to Salt Lake and where to look for flamingos
If you don’t have a car, you can walk to the lake from the nearby area (Skala or Mackenzie Beach), or take a bus that goes to the airport (424, 425), which will pass next to the lake. If you don’t want to walk for a long time, it’s better to take a taxi.It is impossible to guess where exactly the flamingos will be, so it does not matter which side of the lake you approach/drive up from. In general, if you have a very strong desire to see them, then it is better to stay in a hotel closer to the lake in order to be able to return again or even several times if the birds are too far from the shore.
How close can you get to a flamingo?
Flamingos in Cyprus are protected and it is strictly forbidden to disturb them. In practice, this only means that you should not climb into the lake or try to walk over pebbles to get closer to the birds.Don't be afraid to disturb flamingos by getting too close to them while on the lake shore. Firstly, this is almost impossible; birds always keep a certain distance. Secondly, Larnaca flamingos are accustomed to noise - there is a busy road and an airport nearby, so they are not frightened by the sounds of footsteps and people's voices, you can talk at least at the top of your voice.
And here I am on Salt Lake, admiring the flamingos...
Well, now I’ve told you all the secrets about how to see flamingos in Larnaca, and you can get to the point: when you surf the Internet or look at booklets in a hotel, flamingos are large, bright and numerous, and when you come to Salt Lake, to finally On the street, to see this miracle of nature, everything is different.This is what flamingos look like on the Salt Lake in Larnaca if you have a semi-professional camera with zoom:
And this is what flamingos look like when you look at them with your own eyes:
I accidentally caught a flying flamingo in the frame - a popular theme for advertising websites and booklets (with telescopic zoom, of course, and not like mine). It seems that if you come to Salt Lake, flamingos will continue to cut back and forth, flapping their pink wings. I have only seen flamingos flying twice.
The photo shows the closest distance to which you can approach them.
What's the trick?
Despite the fact that you can’t see flamingos up close, and even through zoom they are not very large, it is still interesting to watch them in nature. This is completely different from seeing flamingos in a zoo, even with an imitation of the natural environment. Therefore, the Salt Lake in Larnaca is a special place.
Only here did I learn that flamingos talk all day long, and their conversation sometimes sounds like grunting, and sometimes like croaking. It’s especially cool in the dark, when you can’t see them, but you know by the sounds which way they are. It looks like hunting.
Flamingos spend most of the day with their heads in the water - collecting some tiny crustaceans, from which they turn pink.
Very young flamingos are gray and white, like this one:
On the opposite shore of the lake from Larnaca is the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. For Muslims it is important because... it contains the ashes of Muhammad's nurse, who died in Cyprus. Surrounded by flamingos it looks very romantic, especially at sunset:
Is it possible to swim in the flamingo lake in Larnaca?
No. The lake is shallow, where flamingos walk at most in knee-deep water, and even if it was deeper, it would not be attractive for swimming. Here in Aruba you can swim with flamingos; they walk there in the clear sea water.
I was very happy to be in season to see the great pink flamingos at Salt Lake.
Flamingos on the Salt Lake in Larnaca: when?
When does that very cherished time come and flamingos fly to the lake in Larnaca? Exactly when it is off-season for swimming in Cyprus - in winter. Flamingos arrive in December and fly away around the end of February - March. By the way, the Salt Lake near the airport in Larnaca is not the only place where you can see them, it’s just more famous and easier to get there, and there are several lakes where flamingos winter in Cyprus.Is there some secret about the time of day? I don't think so. I have been to Salt Lake several times, and the birds always behaved differently: they were sometimes closer, sometimes further from the shore, sometimes on one side of the lake, sometimes on the other.
How to get to Salt Lake and where to look for flamingos
If you don’t have a car, you can walk to the lake from the nearby area (Skala or Mackenzie Beach), or take a bus that goes to the airport (424, 425), which will pass next to the lake. If you don’t want to walk for a long time, it’s better to take a taxi.It is impossible to guess where exactly the flamingos will be, so it does not matter which side of the lake you approach/drive up from. In general, if you have a very strong desire to see them, then it is better to stay in a hotel closer to the lake in order to be able to return again or even several times if the birds are too far from the shore.
How close can you get to a flamingo?
Flamingos in Cyprus are protected and it is strictly forbidden to disturb them. In practice, this only means that you should not climb into the lake or try to walk over pebbles to get closer to the birds.Don't be afraid to disturb flamingos by getting too close to them while on the lake shore. Firstly, this is almost impossible; birds always keep a certain distance. Secondly, Larnaca flamingos are accustomed to noise - there is a busy road and an airport nearby, so they are not frightened by the sounds of footsteps and people's voices, you can talk at least at the top of your voice.
And here I am on Salt Lake, admiring the flamingos...
Well, now I’ve told you all the secrets about how to see flamingos in Larnaca, and you can get to the point: when you surf the Internet or look at booklets in a hotel, flamingos are large, bright and numerous, and when you come to Salt Lake, to finally On the street, to see this miracle of nature, everything is different.This is what flamingos look like on the Salt Lake in Larnaca if you have a semi-professional camera with zoom:
And this is what flamingos look like when you look at them with your own eyes:
I accidentally caught a flying flamingo in the frame - a popular theme for advertising websites and booklets (with telescopic zoom, of course, and not like mine). It seems that if you come to Salt Lake, flamingos will continue to cut back and forth, flapping their pink wings. I have only seen flamingos flying twice.
The photo shows the closest distance to which you can approach them.
What's the trick?
Despite the fact that you can’t see flamingos up close, and even through zoom they are not very large, it is still interesting to watch them in nature. This is completely different from seeing flamingos in a zoo, even with an imitation of the natural environment. Therefore, the Salt Lake in Larnaca is a special place.
Only here did I learn that flamingos talk all day long, and their conversation sometimes sounds like grunting, and sometimes like croaking. It’s especially cool in the dark, when you can’t see them, but you know by the sounds which way they are. It looks like hunting.
Flamingos spend most of the day with their heads in the water - collecting some tiny crustaceans, from which they turn pink.
Very young flamingos are gray and white, like this one:
On the opposite shore of the lake from Larnaca is the Hala Sultan Tekke Mosque. For Muslims it is important because... it contains the ashes of Muhammad's nurse, who died in Cyprus. Surrounded by flamingos it looks very romantic, especially at sunset:
Is it possible to swim in the flamingo lake in Larnaca?
No. The lake is shallow, where flamingos walk at most in knee-deep water, and even if it was deeper, it would not be attractive for swimming. Here in Aruba you can swim with flamingos; they walk there in the clear sea water.
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!
