Flora and founa in North Cyprus |
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The mountains in the Karpaz Peninsula and Güzelyürt are not very high; approximately they are up to 364 meters. The main underground rocks in Cyprus are limestone, but also marble and granite can be found. Cyprus was formed about 1 million years ago at the end of the Ice Age.
In North Cyprus more than 1800 different kinds of herbs, flowers and trees grow, moreover 86 types are unique and cannot be found anywhere except Cyprus. Their blossom times starts in the autumn and reaches its maximum season in spring.
In autumn all mountains are covered with white carpet of blossom narcissuses and crocuses . In the spring all plains of North Cyprus are covered by yellow carpet of flowers such as Oxalis . In the mountains of North Cyprus in April and May it is a time for the wild orchids, which there are more than 20 different kinds and some of them can only be found on this Island.
The typical flowers of North Cyprus in winter season are anemones. The Cyprus winter fields are covered with red and white anemones flowers of different shades. Lawrence Durrell, the English writer who lived for many years in North Cyprus, in his book Bitter Lemons compares those fields with billions of colorful butterflies.
In Cyprus towns common trees such as pine, sycamore, cypresses and fig trees grow. One of the oldest and largest fig trees is in Kyrenia (Girne), under the shade of his enormous branches is located the restaurant named ……….………….
The area of the Karpaz peninsula is very reach with olive trees and carob . Carob, also known as “algarroba”, is an evergreen leguminous Mediterranean tree with compound leaves and edible pods. The fruit of the carob tree is long and has black lacquered pod, which as raw materials are commonly used for pharmaceutical industry because of its beneficial qualities.
The main citrus plantations in North Cyprus are located in the Güzelyürt area, where the long road goes through the lemon and grapefruit groves. Also everywhere in North Cyprus bamboo and local variety of bananas grow. In the area of Famagusta and in the Bellapais Abbey can be met eucalyptus groves.
North Cyprus is the main stop for the large numbers of migrant bird which fly in spring and autumn season. 100 million birds go through Cyprus and they are more than 250 various types . They use the Cyprus Island for a short stop. The pink flamingos, cranes, herons and various species of ducks love to spend the winter months around the lake in Famagusta area. Cyprus is a home for the more than 300 species of birds.
In the mountains you can see snakes , which attack only if you touch them. The chance to meet snakes in the mountains is minimal. But you can see the large amount of graceful lizards, which live throughout the North Cyprus everywhere: in the mountains and in plains, in the towns and in villages, and especially they like to live in the territory of historical monuments, where they find their home in the small crevices between the stones. They are not harmful and not dangerous for humans, but sometimes can frighten and confuse by their huge size. In gardens you can see chameleons, but it is difficult to find them as they use protective coloration.
By visiting North Cyprus, you get a chance to see all these charms of nature.
