Waterfalls of Troodos. Waterfalls of Cyprus: six cool oases. Excursion to the waterfalls of Cyprus
Cyprus routes are diverse and offer travel for every taste, any complexity.
Actually, we came to Platres to visit a small chocolate workshop. All four of the most famous waterfalls in Cyprus are located nearby, so to visit Platres and not reach at least one of them is unforgivable stupidity.
Caledonia Waterfall is located at an altitude of 1330 m. Its height is 13 m.
There are several options to get to the waterfall. We chose a route starting from the Psilo Dendro tavern and its trout farm. In parentheses, I note that the British, noted on tripadvisor.com, are quite unanimous in their assessment of the restaurant: not very bad, but too expensive and noisy. By tradition, we limited ourselves to sandwiches captured from home, and a thermos with tea.
Why is the waterfall called Caledonia?
Interestingly, Russian-language sites about Cyprus tell the story of how in 1878 a certain nostalgic Scot who visited Platres, at the sight of local beauties, remembered his native Caledonia (as the ancient Romans called Scotland), which he notified his acquaintances. Hence the name of the waterfall.
English sites either do not suspect this version, or do not consider it wealthy. They connect the origin of the name Caledonia with ... swallows, allegedly living in the crowns of trees in the area of \u200b\u200bthe waterfall. It turns out that chelidon urbica is the Latin name for the city swallow. Here is a chain lined up: celidon, kelidon, Caledonia ... One misfortune, I have little idea of \u200b\u200bswallows soaring proudly in the undergrowth.
Let's hit the road!
The beginning of the path to the waterfall is easy to overlook. The tavern’s billboard is more striking than a modest pointer to a waterfall.
If you forgot to stock up with drinking water, then at the very beginning of the trail there is a small spring from which you can draw water and get drunk on the track. Further - only from a goat's hoof. Do you, of course, remember how this ended for Ivanushka?
The path briskly takes up the mountain, but the river is not yet visible. But the deafening bird's noise is heard. It is dined by horse poop numerous sparrows.
Leaving the sparrows to enjoy the meal, we quickly reached a huge boulder sanded by the backs of numerous tourists. It turns out to be photographed in the pose of Atlanta, holding the firmament on its back - a "must" for every self-respecting traveler. I had to obey:
The road to the Caledonian Falls brought to mind pictures from fairy tales. In my childhood there would have been a kingdom of Koshchei the Immortal or, at worst, some kind of woman-yaga would have lived. Modern kids confidently say that this is a magical forest from films about Harry Potter.
I think it’s not necessary to say that to walk to the waterfall you need to wear suitable shoes? However, the road is not so difficult that the two far from the first freshness aunts grandmothers could not easily overcome it and return home safe and sound.
I was even somewhat disappointed. The first time I got here was in February 1998. There was snow all around, the stones were covered with thin ice, the path treacherously darted from the left bank of the river to the right and again returned to the left, and then again to the right. The transition from one coast to another over slippery stones was fraught with an ice font and was accompanied by the release of adrenaline.
If the origin of the name of the waterfall has a dual interpretation, then the name of the river Krio Potamos is clearly translated into Russian as the Cold River. Even in summer, the water in it invigorates. Now, for the convenience of tourists, convenient but boring bridges are thrown over all the river crossings. No drive!
To combine business with pleasure, along the way I shot the local flora and fauna. We will reach the fauna a little later, and the flora is it:
- arbutus;
- young shoots of sage;
- a violet that reminded me of my childhood;
- the ubiquitous ivy that has snaked all the stones and trees along the way;
- etruscan honeysuckle.
Quite unexpectedly, a gazebo appeared in front of us, let's call this unpretentious structure that way.
After the gazebo, the last 150 meters of climbing:
They say that not even the most serious article on the Internet should do without seals. How to ensure site traffic without them? Therefore, a meeting with a representative of the local fauna at the waterfall itself was very helpful.
Where did the cat come from in the wilderness, away from human habitation and what it eats, I can’t imagine. But judging by the round and plump face, the little animal lives not so badly.
Here is the waterfall itself. I know I know! Not Niagara and not Victoria. But as they say, what is rich ... The height of Caledonia is only 13 meters, but after heavy rains in the winter season, when the river is filled with water, the waterfall is a more impressive sight.
Quest "Find a fish"
In the cold running water of the Krio Potamos River, trout is found. It does not reach large sizes, but if you stop and take a closer look, then in small backwaters you can see smart fry. I found two.
How to get to the beginning of the trail leading to the Caledonia waterfall
The coordinates of the waterfall itself are not required. You can’t reach the waterfall by car, but it’s impossible to pass by it. The road to the waterfall goes with a slight slope up and takes about 40 minutes. You can walk back down the hill faster, in about 30 minutes.
Description:
The waterfall is located on two tiers, at the bottom there is an emerald-colored swimming pool with water. There is a bungee and rope swing for beautiful photos. Extreme visitors jump into the pond from tree branches or from the upper tier of the waterfall, although the signs “no jumping” and “no diving” delicately hint that this is not worth doing.
In general, the Adonis bath is not only a waterfall. This is a whole park with a house-museum, a picnic area on the roof, sun loungers and a small bar.
From afar guests are greeted by a ten-meter statue, Zeus sits at the entrance - smaller, but all gold. Inside - a series of statues with a sexual bias of one degree or another, some look too much.
They also have weddings and beauty treatments. Everything else, this waterfall has its own website.
Coordinates:34.871727,32.436146
Mesa potamos
What: The smallest waterfall, the height of the cascade is 7 meters.
Where:On the Mesa Potamos River, 200 meters from St. John Monastery.
Description: Mesa Potamos is so small that not everyone recognizes it as a waterfall. Perhaps that is why he did not even get a separate name and bears the name of the river on which it is located.
The place around the waterfall is very picturesque. Here is a beautiful, tables are located right on the banks of the stream. You can take a walk along the river or go to the monastery, - at certain hours everyone is allowed into the territory and into the temple.
Coordinates:34.892815,32.90738
Green valley
What:Waterfall with ennobled territory, entrance fee - 5 euros.
Where: 27 km. from Limassol, in the vicinity of the village of Trimiklini.
Description: A half-kilometer descent to the waterfall is equipped with wooden bridges, railings and in some places - steps, benches and trash baskets are carefully arranged, signs with the names of local plants are placed. Hens, ducks and peacocks are walking nearby. Below you can swim in a small shallow lake.
Coordinates:34.85364,32.911865
Post Views: 12,079
If you are lucky enough to go on a trip to Cyprus, then you should definitely take time to visit the waterfalls. To each of them there are quite convenient walking routes and each has its own charm.
It is not known for certain which version of the name of this waterfall is correct. Some are of the opinion that the waterfall was called a visiting Scotsman in honor of his homeland (the ancient Roman name of Scotland is Caledonia) According to another version, the name happened from the Latin name for swallows (chaledon urbica) that live in the area of \u200b\u200bthe waterfall.
Waterfalls of southern Cyprus. Walk
Having decided to visit the Caledonia waterfall on foot, get ready, the surface of the road leading to the goal does not look like smooth trampled paths in the park, so you won’t be bored, especially for those who did not take care of comfortable shoes in advance. Looking under your feet, do not forget to raise your eyes to the surrounding beauty, because it is not in vain that tourists call this road a "fairy forest." A path winds along the riverbed of the Cryo Potamos playfully jumping from the right bank to the left. I think this would cause a lot of difficulties if caring hands did not build a large number of neat bridges for crossing the river, the water in which is cold both in summer and in winter.
The waterfall itself is small 13 meters high, however, in combination with the surrounding nature makes an unforgettable impression. Surrounded by strawberry trees twined with ivy stones, among which you can see tender violet and young shoots of sage, the water flow has a calming effect. With luck, trout can be seen in the clear waters of the river. The most impressive flow of water occurs after heavy rains that occur in winter, but this can not cause a refusal to visit this waterfall in the summer.
If you have already reached Cyprus, it is simply a crime not to visit the highest of its waterfalls - Millomeris. 15 meter The waterfall is quite picturesque. As always, modern scholars of history did not agree on the origin of the name of the waterfall. A simpler version gives a direct translation from Greek, which literally means « wet place» . However, romantics prefer to believe that the waterfall was named after the mill that once existed in these parts.
The landscapes along the road to Millomeris are picturesque and delight the eye with their diversity. What are the wooden steps and a winding path over a small, but nevertheless, cliff. The waterfall itself is in a secluded place, impressive in its beauty and pristine. The flow of water over the years of continuous operation has given the rock a bizarre bend, forming a small secluded backwater. Romantic personalities can dream about their own to the sound of water and birdsong, and even more daring even swim. This waterfall will especially please lovers of pristine nature and unusual photographs. The combination of falling water, pines and cypresses, many stones twined with ivy and twitter of hundreds of birds will not allow you to forget the beauty of this place ever.
And if you still have strength after visiting two waterfalls, we recommend getting to the third largest waterfall in Cyprus - Hantara. It is 8 meters high and boasts several tiers of falling water. Own title
Hantara waterfall got for noise generated by water falling
(« andara "- the sound of water) And although it is really noisy only in winter, it is simply impossible not to include this waterfall in your route.
It is believed that he is less visited due to the remoteness from the central tourist routes, but this is completely undeserved, because many experts rightly call it the most beautiful waterfall in Cyprus. Indeed, the flows of falling water, surrounded by plane trees, oaks and strawberry trees are very impressive. And at the foot of the waterfall a small crystal clear lake forms along which convenient paths for visitors are made. There are steps along the waterfall that allow you to climb and to see the cascades of falling water as best as possible.
Once the rivers of Cyprus flowed into the sea. Now there are almost no rivers in this sense - they are all blocked by dams, and now they flow exclusively into the reservoirs. If a “hypothetical” tourist decides to walk around the island along the coastline, he will see many “dried up” riverbeds. Yes, far and no need to go - in Limassol, for example, near our hotel there is such a thing. What are we getting at? Moreover, the rivers from Cyprus have not disappeared, but they only flow in the mountains to the nearest reservoir. In the mountains, rivers sometimes break down into waterfalls, and then again peacefully murmur further downward.
Let's try to move closer to the topic of our today's story. We liked the title of one of the articles: "Millomeris - the highest waterfall on the island of Cyprus." For example, I immediately imagined the scale of a conventional device - a "waterfall". On the one hand, there will be Victoria Falls or Niagara Falls, and on the other, a drop of drops from an eye pipette. So Cypriot waterfalls will be much closer to the "pipette" edge. We did not write this in order to somehow make fun of the local waterfalls, but only in order to prepare you for their scale. We really like the local waterfalls.
So, really the Millomeris waterfall (synonyms: Milomery, Milomeris, Myllomeris, Millomeri) is the largest in Cyprus. Its height is about fifteen meters, which is a couple of meters above the Caledonia waterfall, which we have already talked about. There are two ways to get to it: simpler and more complex. We do not choose simple paths, so we will lead you to it on foot. A simpler path involves approaching almost close to Millomeris by car, which is more consistent with this section of the “In-passing”, and, of course, we will also talk about it. Nevertheless, we begin with a more difficult route.
Walking to the waterfall
To do this, you need to come almost to the very top of the Troodos Mountains - in the resort town of Pano Platres, along the road that goes around it on the eastern edge. We ducked a car near the church and went to look for the path to the waterfall.
It’s good that the local girl somehow explained to us with gestures where the beginning of the trail is located. Climbing along the road two hundred meters, we saw a sign leading to the path to Millomeris.
Yes, now we are standing at an altitude of 1050 meters above sea level. And just above Pano Platres is Caledonia Waterfall. The same river Krios Potamos flows through them, which means “cold river”. Although for Cypriots and the sea at +25 water is already very cold. It is strange that they did not name the "eternally cold river."
Water really invigorates, but "ours" normally bathe in the jets of a waterfall. However, we will be closer to the topic. We start the descent!
The trail itself is very picturesque. There are also benches on it, where you can take a break in the shade of trees, and wooden steps, so that it is easier to pass steep descents. And just nice landscapes are found along the road. We will not give a lot of photos here, but leave them for a photo album. While a couple of pictures from the trail. Here, for example, such a landscape along the way.
And here are the steps on the trail.
The path leads us to the brook, although this is the same river Krios Potamos.
Then it again departs from the river and, finally, leads to the end point of our current route - to Millomeris waterfall.
It took us 45 minutes to descend to the waterfall with various stops for photographing. The return trip will be longer - still returning to the hill.
Car access
If there is no time for a walk, then you can drive to the waterfall by car.
True, at the end of the road you still have to go down a bit. Just do not miss this sign on the road. As you turn left on it - immediately keep right at the fork. The road is quite normal, although for the most part unpaved. About two kilometers - and we are at our destination. If there are a lot of cars, then it is probably impossible to stand right at the stairs leading to the waterfall - there is too little parking area, if you can call it that. It is better to stop a little earlier, in front of a sign denoting a dead end. Next, you need to go a little down the stairs directly to the waterfall. By the way, on the last stretch the pedestrian and “machine” tracks converge.
Video orientation
No need to consider the underlying video as an example of artistic or technical excellence. We just wanted to show mainly the descent along the road to the waterfall, which takes the lion's time from an eight-minute clip, and a little bit of the waterfall itself, which is worth it if you want to go down to it. And do not blame for quality.
Photo album
Millomeris Waterfall is formed by the coldest river in Cyprus - Krios Potamos, which is translated from Greek as “Cold River”. The crystal clear water of this river rushes down from a 15-meter height, forming the highest waterfall on the island. Previously, the road to the waterfall was difficult, which negatively affected its popularity for many years. However, recently the approach to the waterfall was cleared, massive stones disturbing tourists were removed from the paths, and now the riverbed can be crossed by a bridge.
There are two versions of the origin of the name Millomeris: according to the first, the name of the waterfall comes from the Greek phrase meaning “wet place”, according to the second, the waterfall is named after the mill that was once in its vicinity.
Pine, cypress, ivy, immortelle, Cypriot aster species and other beautiful plants grow in this area. Different birds flutter from branch to branch, such as dippers, tits, jays, blackbirds and crested crows. On the stones, in the rays of the sun, bright lizards bask in, if you are lucky, and you will see a chameleon, squirrel, hare or even admire the smooth flight of the royal eagle.
