Physical Geography of Cyprus
It is currently believed that the most conspicuous geological feature of Cyprus is the collision of the Euro-Asian and African tectonic plates with look place about 80 million years ago. About 25 million years ago, during the Lower Miocene era, the igneous complex of Troodos constituted an isle, while the Mesaoria plain, to the north, and the Pentadaktylos or Kerynia range, further north, were under the sea. By the end of the Miocene era, about 11 million years ago, the Pentadaktylos started elevating above the sea, while the Mesaoria plain remained under the sea, to appear much later during the Pleistocene era, about one million years ago. All other details of the geological history of Cyprus, particularly those concerning the coastline, were formed later. It is this tempestuous geological history which is responsible for a great variety of rocks: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary, hard and soft, fractured and unaltered, of different colour and texture, now at a small distance from each other on the island’s surface. The present topography of Cyprus can be sub-divided into five morphological regions:
- Kerynia or Pentadactylos range. This is the northern mountain chain of Cyprus, appearing as a narrow arc-like strip of land. The highest summit, Kyparissovouno, reaches a height of 1024 meters and is made up of relatively hard limestones.
- The ophiolite massif of Troodos. The central-western part of Cyprus is occupied by the igneous massif of Troodos. The resistant igneous rocks of this mountain block (dunnites, serpentinite, gabbros, diabase, etc.)
- The hills around the igneous massif of Troodos and south of the Kerynia range. They extend mainly east, south and west of the ophiolite complex of Troodos and consist mainly of chalks. They give rise to a rounded, bare, white landscape, under dry-fed cultivations, particularly vineyards.
- Central plain. The central plain of Cyprus, often known as Mesaoria, lies between the two mountains and has a very low altitude which does not exceed 180 meters a.s.l. close to Nicosia. It consists of sediments which have been transported and deposited by steams in recent geological times from the Troodos and the Kerynia ranges.
- Coastal Plains. Almost around Cyprus appear narrow coastal plains which in fact are raised beaches. In the north is the coastal plain of Kerynia which is very narrow but with scenic laced beaches. To the south is the plain of Larnaka lying below 100 meters a.s.l. and composed of alluvium and terrace deposits of recent geological formation. The most important geomorphological feature is the Salt Lake separated from the sea by porous deposits. The coastal plain of Limassol, lying below 200m, occupies mainly the Akrotiri peninsula with extensions to Pissouri -Avdimou to the west and small areas east of Amathous. The most conspicuous geomorphological feature of the region is the Akrotiri Lake. The coastal plain of Chrysochou extends east and west of Polis and includes part of the narrow Chrysochou valley to the south.
Extract from the Touring Guide of Cyprus published by SELAS PUBLICATIONS
