TROODOS WATERFALLS

Useful information regarding the most important natural falls of the Troodos Forest, thus, providing the opportunity to visitors who are interested to visit and become better acquainted with these wonderful elements of Cyprus nature, which are the result of complex geological processes that took place o long time ago and of the continuous flow of water surrounded by rich aquatic natural flora

They are situated on the river bed of Kryos Potamos at the Troodos National Forest Park at an altitude of 1330m north of the Pano Platres village. The water fall is 13 meters high. The rocks of this area are composed mainly of  wehrlite  and other rocks of  the Troodos ophiolite complex. The flora  surrounding the falls comprises mainly pine trees, both Pinus Brutia as well as Pinus nigra ssp.pallasiana and the endemic  Quercus alnifolia as understorey. The riverine flora with the various forms and colours is characterized by the Platanus orientalis ,Alnus orientalis and  Hedera Helix which prefers shady and moist areas.

According to tradition, the fall   derives its name from the Scottish visitors who were enchanted by the beauty of scenery that reminded them of their own country which was called Kaledonia in ancient times , so they called these falls “Kaledonia Falls”

The Kaledonia falls are thought to be the most attractive falls in Cyprus also because of the fascinating scenery and the tens of thousands travelers visiting the place every year .

The visitor may reach the falls through the Kaledonia nature trail which has two starting points. One  of them begins at the point on the “Kryos Potamos ” river near the Presidential Residence at Troodos, and the other from the “Psilon Dentron”point near the village of Platres. The trail is two and one kilometers in length respectively.

They are situated in the“ Kryos Potamos” river bed southeast of the Pano Platres village at 980m altitude near the “Panayia Phaneromeni” Church. The height of the water fall is20 meters and it is the highest of the Troodos falls. The rocks in the area are composed mainly of diabase.

The surrounding flora is almost the same as in the Kaledonia falls. It camprises mainly pine forests (Pinus brutia) Platanus orientalis and Alnus orientalis  thriving along the narrow river bed and they enhance the feeling of coolness experienced by the visitor.Cupressus sempervirens is found on the rocky slopes as well as the , endemic Asperula cypria, Helichysum italicum, endemic Ptilosternon chamaepeuse and many other interesting plant species.  According to tradition  the fall took its name from the words “millos” which means moist and the word “meros” which means area.

The visitor can reach the fall from Pera Pedi village, a 4,2 km distance (2,1 km asphalt, 1,9 km dirt road and 0,2km cement road) and from Pano Platres towards Moniatis, a 3,8 distance (2,8 asphalt, 0.3 dirt road and 0,7 cement road). Also from the Phaneromeni Church in Pano Platres there is a one kilometer long nature trail leading to the falls.

They are situated on the Trooditissa or Diplos Potamos river bed north of the village of Fini, within the state forest, at an altitude of 1035m. The water falls in 8 meters high. The rocks in the area are composed mainly of gabbro. The surrounding vegetation coprises mainly pine forests with Pinus brutia and the Quercus alnifolia as an understorey, Arbutus andrachne  and many other bushes and shrubs. Plane trees (Platanus orientalis)and Alder (Alnus orientalis) are dominant in the river bed together with other riverine  plants.

According to tradition the falls took their name from the word “andara” which  for the surrounding villages means “noise of waters”.

The visitor may reach the falls either from Foini village, a 1.5 long road (0,3km is asphalt and 1,2 km dirt road), the Trooditissa monastery (3.5 dirt road)and from the village of Pano Platres 5,5 km (2,9 km asphalt and 2,6 km dirt road)

These are situated on the river bed of Arkolachanias  river or Mesa Potamos, north west of Saitas near the Timios Prodromos Monastery at Mesa Potamos at an altitude of 1000m. The height of the waterfall is 7 metres. The rocks comprise mainly gabbro. The vegetation af the area is similar to that of the Chantara falls described above.

The name of the falls is derived from the name of the river. The visitor may follow the road from Saitas, a 5km long dirt, from the Moniatis Village a 5,5 km dirt road, from the village of Kato Amiantos a 7km dirt road and from the Mesa Potamos picnic area through the 200 meter downhill trail.