Limassol Salt Lake
| Limassol Salt Lake | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Limassol Salt Lake | |
| Coordinates | 34°37′N 32°58′E / 34.617°N 32.967°E |
| Basin countries | [][citation needed] |
| Surface area | 10.65 km2 (4.11 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) |
| Surface elevation | sea level |
| Settlements | Limassol |
| Official name | Akrotiri |
| Designated | 20 March 2003 |
| Reference no. | 1375[1] |
Limassol Salt Lake (Greek: Αλυκή Λεμεσού; also known as Akrotiri Salt Lake, Greek: Αλυκή Ακρωτηρίου) is the largest inland body of water on the island of Cyprus.[2] It is located in Akrotiri and Dhekelia, administered as a Sovereign Base Area; specifically in the Western Sovereign Base Area.[citation needed]
It lies due south-west of the sprawling city of Limassol and measures 10.65 km2 (4.11 sq mi).[citation needed] According to a BirdLife (Cyprus) booklet, its lowest point is 2.7 metres (8 ft 10 in) below sea level, and at its deepest point the water depth measures about one meter.[3] A study mentions that the maximum depth of the salt lake reaches 2.8 m below mean sea level in the winter.[4][clarification needed] A BirdLife International entry for an area including the lake gives the minimum elevation of that area as 0 m.[5] Geologists hypothesize the lake was formed over the gradual joining of an offshore islet off the southern coast of Cyprus. [6]
The lake dries out in the summer.[5]
Ecology
[edit]The lake itself is considered to be one of the eastern Mediterranean region’s most important wetlands.[2] The shallowness of the lake (more than half of the lake is less than 30 centimetres (12 in) deep) attracts thousands of wading birds to use it as a stopover during the migration seasons between Africa and Europe.[citation needed] BirdLife International estimates that between 2,000 and 20,000 greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) spend the winter months on the lake.[5]
British antennas
[edit]In 2003 the British Ministry of Defence caused some controversy by constructing two gigantic antennas as part of its radio listening post network in the Middle East.[7]
Local and European environmentalists are concerned that the proximity of the listening posts to this ecosystem could have a significant impact on the wildlife.[8][9][10]
Gallery
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Akrotiri". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- ^ a b Cohn, Lindsay. "Move over, Greece: Cyprus is the next big under-the-radar vacation destination". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-11-29.
- ^ Σημαντικές Περιοχές για τα Πουλιά της Κύπρου (Important areas for the Birds of Cyprus), by Ζώτος Σάββας. Birdlife (Cyprus) booklet publication
- ^ Polidorou, Miltiadis; Evelpidou, Niki; Tsourou, Theodora; Drinia, Hara; Salomon, Ferréol; Blue, Lucy (August 2021). "Observations on Palaeogeographical Evolution of Akrotiri Salt Lake, Lemesos, Cyprus". Geosciences. 11 (8): 321. Bibcode:2021Geosc..11..321P. doi:10.3390/geosciences11080321. ISSN 2076-3263.
- ^ a b c "BirdLife IBA Factsheet: Akrotiri salt-lake including Bishop's Pool". BirdLife International. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008.
- ^ School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton University [1]
- ^ Britain got ‘one-time-only’ deal on antennae (Cyprus Mail archive article - Friday, December 3, 2004) "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ EFGP 3rd Congress, Berlin, Germany, 17–19 May 2002 Adopted resolution Cyprus: British military antennas. "EFGP : Resolutions". Archived from the original on 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
- ^ Birdlife Cyprus Newsletter [2] Archived 2006-11-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ramsar mission report, Akrotiri Wetland Complex, Cyprus, 17–21 June 2002 "Seminar on Cyprus' Akrotiri salt lake". Archived from the original on 2006-09-27. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
