The Akamas Region

Akamas, situated to the extreme north-west part of Pafos, often referred to as Akamas Peninsula, is a rugged, wild and attractive area with unspoilt beaches and rocky coastline.  Its flora is undisturbed with some rare plant species. However, Akamas is not simply a natural region with special geology, geomorphology and natural vegetation, but a very interesting cultural region as well with a history dating back to a few thousand years.  This pristine area, where man lived since the Chalcolithic period, has been frequently looted and attacked by Arab raids, particularly in the seventh century A.D., a fact which forced the local inhabitants to move inland leaving behind villages, hamlets and chapels.

Akamas together with the forest of Pafos, particularly Stavros tis Psokas, are popular destinations for tourists, particularly those seeking tranquillity and peace as well as scientists (botanists, geographers, geologists, ornithologists, etc), but also artists and writers. Furthermore, Akamas is a stopover place for millions of migratory birds on their route from Europe to Africa and vice versa.

There are many interpretations concerning the etymology of Akamas, the most prevalent of which is that of Akamas, the son of Theseus, who arrived in Cyprus after the Trojan war and founded Akamantis, a town in the Akamas region, still unearthed.

Geology

The geology of Akamas is rather complex, while the rocks are quite varied. In fact, in Akamas the visitor finds rocks of the ophiolithic complex of Troodos, a large variety of sedimentary rocks as well as rocks of the Mamonia Complex.  The ridge of the peninsula coincides with serpentinised rocks fringed on the west by gabbros, plagiogranites as well as diabase. Further west, lavas, mainly basalts, even not continuous, occupy a significant part of the peninsula.  The most significant sedimentary rocks are the reef limestone, particularly on the Lara “Salt Lake”, a few bentonites and sandstone of Kannaviou formation, the limestone of Koronia, gravels and sands on the terraced beaches and a few alluvium deposits.  Terrace deposits, thought interrupted, extend from Lara to the cape of Akamas,

However, the Mamonia complex is the most interesting feature of the geology of Akamas. They are allochthonous igneous and sedimentary rocks of an unknown age.  The most important of these rocks are thin bedded radiolarian cherts, siltstones, mudstones, limestones, calcarenites, quartzitic sandstones and grey-green sandstones with fossil remains. Besides, a few metamorphic rocks can be found close to the Baths of Aphrodite, consisting of schists, quartzite red phyllites, marbles etc. The specialists who visit Akamas are more interested in the ophiolithic complex of the region which, in essence, is a miniature of the ophiolithic complex of Troodos. However, the relationship of these two complexes is not yet abundantly clear.

Minerals

Magnesite is one of the ores that were extracted and exported about 75 years ago.  Magnesia is the locality of the abandoned mine. The visitor can still see shafts and kilns where in the past a mining activity was thriving.

Copper and iron deposits are present in the peninsula of Akamas, though not sufficient to be exploited. Most of the bentonitic deposits are situated outside the actual Akamas region, while marble are limited in quantity. Even reef limestone, of exceptional quality, lies to the east of the region, in the area of Androlikou. Besides, “black earth” was also extracted and exported abroad a few decades ago.

Scenery and Landscape

The geology of Akamas, particularly the presence of a large variety of rocks as well as their structure, has greatly affected the scenery of Akamas.

In fact, a ridge with a NW-SE direction divides the peninsula of Akamas, particularly the Forest of Akamas, into two parts with a number of streams flowing west.  This ridge coincides with an anticline following the same direction. Relief reaches 494m at Vlambouros, NW of Fasli and 428 at Mavri Shinia, north of Smigies.  Due to the streams which dissect the landscape to the west, a number of tiny deep valleys and gorges have been formed, while marine terraces, though narrow, have been formed, currently followed by an earthen road. The same marine terraces appear to the east reaching the Baths of Aphrodite.  Akamas is considered to be the most pristine region of Cyprus.

Extract from  the Touring Guide of Pafos published by SELAS PUBLICATIONS LTD