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Click on an image in the list below to see a higher resolution version Akamas PeninsulaThe Akamas Peninsula in northwest Cyprus mainly comprises limestone deposits but pillow lava is also seen in places. Hiking on the peninsula we came across two small areas of serpentine rock. | ||
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Serpentine Barren | |
 | 500 year old oak tree | |
 | Common Smilax (actually not very common) | |
Troodos MountainsThe Troodos Mountains in central Cyprus is the spine of the island. The highest point of the range (over 6,000 feet) is Mount Olympus. This is not the Mount Olympus where the Greek Gods live, which is on the Greek mainland. The top of Mount Olympus is a serpentine area. There are two hiking trails that loop around the mountain. We took the lower trail, which is 8 miles in length, in order to see the remains of the Chromite Mine. | ||
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Mount Olympus landscape (the pine trees are probably the thermophilous Calabrian pine - Pinus brutia) | |
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Serpentized Rock | |
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Serpentized Rock | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Serpentinophilous Grassland #2 | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Serpentinophilous Grassland #4 | |
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Foetid juniper (juniperus foetidissima). This is one of the 144 plant species that are endemic to Cyprus. | |
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Unknown needle-shaped mineral | |
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Unknown needle-shaped mineral | |
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Unknown needle-shaped mineral | |
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Mineral with embedded Chromite granules | |
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Endemic shrub | |
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Chromite Mine. This mine operated until 1982. It estimated that 500,000 tons (metric?) of ore was extracted. There was also a asbestos mine in the area but we did not have time to visit its locality. | |
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Serpentinite Rock | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Barrens landscape | |
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Old-growth juniper | |