Pafos :: Cyprus

Troodos National Forest Park is at the centre of the island and covers an area of 9337 hectares. The highest point is Chionistra or Olympos (1952 m) and the lowest is Moni forest (700m). The area is magical and suitable for a variety of activities such as hiking, skiing, mountain cycling, nature study and picnics. Over 770 plant species have managed to survive, making Troodos NFP the richest botanical garden of Cyprus. The area's geology is of world-wide importance.

The world's best preserved ophiological complex is studied by scientists with a view to achieving an understanding of how the ocean's crust was created 90 million years ago at the bottom of a vast ocean known to geologists as the "sea of Tethys". Along the trails, one can see samples of plutonic rock which were created by the crystallization of magma which took place 2000-6000 m, under the bottom of the ocean. In the area 10 trails exist covering a total lenght of 50 kms.