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Machairas National Forest Park
The two most important streams of Cyprus spring from the Park
The reason for declaring the Park a national forest park is to protect and utilize its significant functions and values: ecological, scientific, hydrological and recreational. For this purpose a Development Plan of the National Forest Park will be pursued and implemented.
The park offers 3 picnic areas with tables, drinking water, parking places, toilets and children’s playgrounds. For those who would like to follow the paths of nature, there are 5 trails in the area of the park running along a route of 19 km. One of these trails has been designed to be used by people in wheelchairs too. All trails have information signs listing the main points of special interest. A number of forest parks is being used for the sport of Mountain Biking too.
The plant species found in the Machairas Park are over 600. Among them there are 27 indigenous plants of Cyprus. The dominant forest tree is the calabrian pine (Pinus brutia) which creates a beautiful forest landscape either on its own or in combination with other trees such as the endemic golden oak (Quercus alnifolia) and other shrubs. The visitor can come across various species of mammals such as the fox (Vulpes vulpes), the hare (Lepus europaeus) and the hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus dorotheae), various species of reptiles such as snakes and lizards and rare endemic species of butterflies.
Important birds in the Park are the protected species Bonelli’s eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) and the endemics: Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax), Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca), Coal Tit (Parus ater cypriotes), Scops Owl (Otus scops cyprius), Jay (Garulus glandarius) and also the common Chukar (Alectoris chukar) and Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus).
The two most important streams of Cyprus, Pediaios and Yialias, spring from the Park as well as the two streams of Pentaschinos and Maroni.
Telephone: +357 22403704 Nicosia – Larnaca and Ammochostos Divisional Forest Officer, +357 22805533 Parks Officer
Location: Machairas.
