Nature in Cyprus

North of Cyprus is a must for nature lovers. The great variety of terrains in such a small area allows easy access to mountain woodlands, beaches, rocky coves and wide open plains.

During the spring months the island is a blaze of colour. The roadsides and country paths are carpeted with flowers. Riverside is perfectly situated in the foothills of the mountains, take a walk, you will find an cornucopia of wild flowers including many orchids.

There are many trails for walkers and cyclists ranging from 5km to 20km, but you may prefer to join a group and get a guided tour to see the numerous wild flowers. Tours can be arranged in advance and structured to suit individual needs. There are 30 species of wild orchid which can be found here including the pyramidal orchid and there are over 1600 species of plants to be found many endemic to Northern Cyprus. The Herbarium in the Alevkaya Forest, near Esentepe, is open from 08.00 until 16.00 and has a section with line drawings, a large collection of pressed flowers and a new spirit collection which already boasts most of the orchids found in Cyprus. This is an interesting place to visit and also a great way to identify those unusual finds.

Along with the flowers come the butterflies. They will appear in abundance as you walk. There are 52 species to be found including 5 endemic to Cyprus.

The best times for bird watching are spring and autumn when many species take a short stop in Cyprus during migration. During summer months the birds less obvious, keeping out of the summer sun. There are 350 species to see in Cyprus but only 46 are native, 7 of these are sub-species which can only be found on the Island. Gecitkoy Reservoir is fairly close to Riverside and as it holds water all year round and attracts a wide variety of birds such as Squacco Herons and Purple, Warbler, Great Reed, Little Crake, Bittern, Bonellis Eagle.

Both green and logger-head turtles are found in our waters, they are both endangered species. The green turtle nests here and occasionally on the coasts of south east Turkey and Israel. These intriguing creatures nest on the desolate beaches of Northern Cyprus from May to August. After dark, the adult females, which can measure over a metre long, come ashore to nest. They will dig a pit sometimes about 40cm deep, lay between 60 and 100 eggs, depending on the species, cover them with tons of sand and then return to the waves. Female green turtles can make several nests in a season. The turtles are monitored very carefully by groups of students, British universities work together with the Society for the Protection of Turtles (SPOT). A visit to The Turtle Project near Alagadi Beach makes an interesting afternoon out and you may be invited to watch the turtles nesting or possibly hatching a month or so later.

Over the years donkeys have played a very important role in Cyprus, nearly every household had one. Being very strong and surefooted they were used to transport olives and other crops from the farms to the mills. During World War II the British army used them as transport, but by the 1970’s they were being replaced by trucks. Many donkeys were abandoned and left to fend for themselves during the troubles of 1974, they were rounded up and taken to The Karpaz. They have caused some trouble by straying on to farm land and eating crops, and it was suggested that they be sold off. However with the help of many environmental groups the donkeys won the day and are now protected and have the right to roam the peninsula. They are wild now and ill-tempered, it’s lovely to see them but don’t get too close. There are around 500 donkeys now that live quietly on the Karpas with herds of sheep and goats. You may see the occasional fox or a hedgehog when you are out after dark.