Waterfalls in Cyprus. Travel to the waterfalls in Troodos (Trodos). Hiking to the waterfall

Cyprus – rich country. There is something to show tourists from all over the world. This is not only an island where you can lie on sandy beach and swim in the sea. Here you can visit most interesting excursions on ancient monuments of history, culture and architecture. However, in addition to man-made creations, there are also those that nature itself created for us. Magnificent views and landscapes amaze with their depth and richness. One of the most beautiful natural phenomena that can only be found on the island are mountain waterfalls.

The waterfalls of Cyprus are a separate song, the motives of which spread far beyond the island. Among the scorching summer heat The waterfalls and the road to them represent a life-giving oasis of coolness and relaxation. On the island of Aphrodite, in the Troodos mountain range, is located the most famous and beautiful waterfall Cyprus - Caledonia.

Many people believe that Caledonia is the highest waterfall in Cyprus. This is not so, there are representatives even higher, but Caledonia is considered the most famous and popular for its beauty. Every year, tens of thousands of people walk the difficult path to its foot.

Road to the waterfall

The trail is really not an easy one. Its length is about 2 kilometers along a rough mountain path. The trail is established by the Cyprus Tourism Organization and the Forestry Department and is mostly equipped for ease of movement. At the very beginning of the path there are stone steps and small bridges across the rivers. Before setting off, do not forget to wear comfortable sports shoes - jump on stones and climb steep mountain still have to.

Despite the fact that the path to the cherished goal takes at least two hours, this road is easy even for the unprepared. Thanks to the magnificent views on both sides of the road, the difficulties of the road are not even noticed, which is why they say that mountain walking in Cyprus is very easy. Around you can see rocks polished to a mirror shine, lush green plants and the sun gently peeking through the foliage. Amazing silence and crystal clear mountain air create an extraordinary atmosphere of mystery of what is happening.

The road to the waterfall goes along the mouth of the Krios Potamos River, which means “Cold River”. Around the spacious green meadows of flowers give way to dense pine forest, and small gentle hills with junipers climb up the rock. The clear waters of the river bend around the rocks and fall into small ravines. Here you can find centuries-old pines, oaks, strawberry trees and alders. Nature untouched by man seems to show off all its colors before us.

Small bushes of barberry and rose hips are intertwined with signs. The names of plants and their origins are written on them in English and Latin. Walking along forest paths, you suddenly suddenly hear the distant sound of water. This means the waterfall is close.

Caledonia

The height of the natural creation is 13 meters. The waterfall is located at 1330 meters above sea level and is formed by the Krios Potamos River. It is protected by the Cypriot state, just like National Park Troodos, where it is located.

There are many legends about the origin of the name of the waterfall. According to one of them, the name was given by a Scotsman who arrived in these parts. He said that the local nature reminded him of his homeland, and as you know, Scotland used to be called Caledonia. Who this Scot was and what his name was - history has not preserved.

How to get to the waterfall

Caledonia is located north of the village of Pano Platres. The easiest way to get to the waterfall is from the trout farm, which is located in the area “Psilo Dendro”, which means “Tall Tree”. By the way, there is a restaurant near this farm where you can eat delicious food. The signature dish is freshly caught trout, grilled.

And if you haven’t eaten before the trip, you can pack a small tourist’s breakfast with you. Once you get to the top, you will need to recuperate. There are several comfortable benches located near the waterfall. Here you can relax, admire the sparkling drops of the Caledonian Falls and have a snack from a pre-prepared meal.

Once upon a time, 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 flow exclusively into reservoirs. If a “hypothetical” tourist decides to go around the island along coastline on foot, he will see many “dry” river beds. Yes, you don’t have to go far - in Limassol, for example, not far from our hotel there is one. Where are we going with all this? Moreover, the rivers from Cyprus have not disappeared anywhere, but they only flow in the mountains to the nearest reservoir. In the mountains, rivers sometimes fall into waterfalls, only to then peacefully gurgle further down again.

Let's try to move closer to the topic of our story today. 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 meter”. On one side there will be Victoria Falls or Niagara Falls, and on the other hand, drops falling from an eye dropper. So the Cyprus waterfalls will be much closer to the “dropper” edge. We wrote this not to somehow ridicule local waterfalls, but only to prepare you for their scale. We really like the local waterfalls.

So, indeed, the Millomeris waterfall (synonyms: Milomeri, Milomeris, Myllomeris, Millomeri) is the largest in Cyprus. Its height is about fifteen meters, which is a couple of meters higher than the Caledonia Falls, which we have already talked about. You can get to it in two ways: a simpler one and a more complex one. We don’t take easy paths, so we’ll lead you to it on foot. A simpler route involves driving almost right up to Millomeris by car, which is more consistent with this section of “In Passing,” and, of course, we’ll talk about that too. However, let's start with a more difficult route.

Hiking to the waterfall

To do this, you need to come almost to the very top of the Troodos Mountains - to the resort town of Pano Platres, along the road that goes around it along the eastern edge. We parked the car near the church and went to look for a path to the waterfall.

Fortunately, a local girl somehow explained to us with gestures where the beginning of the trail was. Having climbed about two hundred meters along the road, 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 the Caledonia Falls. The same river Krios Potamos flows through them, which means “cold river”. Although for Cypriots the sea at +25 is already very cold. It’s strange that they didn’t call it “the eternally cold river.”

The water is really invigorating, but “ours” are fine swimming in the jets of the waterfall. However, let's get closer to the topic. Let's start the descent!

The trail itself is very picturesque. There are also benches on which you can rest in the shade of trees, and wooden steps to make it easier to navigate the steep descents and ascents. And there are simply beautiful landscapes along the way. We will not give many photos here, but will leave them for the photo album. A couple of photos from the trail for now. Here, for example, is a landscape along the way.

And here are the steps on the path.

The path leads us to a stream, although this is the same river Krios Potamos.

Then it leaves the river again and finally leads to the final point of our today’s route - the Millomeris waterfall.

It took us 45 minutes to descend to the waterfall with various stops for photography. The way back will take longer - still going uphill.

Access by car

If you don’t have time for a walk, you can also drive up to the waterfall by car.

However, at the end of the path you still have to go down a little on foot. Just don't miss this sign on the road. As you turn left along it, immediately at the fork keep right. The road is quite normal, although mostly dirt. About two kilometers on the way - and we are at our goal. If there are a lot of cars, then you may not be able to stand right next to the stairs leading to the waterfall - the parking area there is too small, if you can call it that. It is better to stop a little earlier, in front of the sign indicating a dead end. Then you need to go a little down the stairs directly to the waterfall. By the way, in the last section the walking and “car” paths converge.

Video orientation

The video below should not be viewed as an example of artistic or technical excellence. We just wanted to show mainly the descent along the road to the waterfall, which takes up the lion's time from the eight-minute clip, and a little of the waterfall itself, which is worth it so that you want to go down to it. And don't blame me for the quality.

Photo album

Millomeris Waterfall is a unique natural attraction of Cyprus. It is the largest of all the waterfalls on the island. Its height is 15 meters, and its name roughly translated means “damp place.” Although some sources claim that it is so named because of the mill (Millomeris), which used to stand at the waterfall.

Divine beauty

All tourist guides call Millomeris waterfall one of the most beautiful - this is absolutely true. The purest stream of water noisily falls into a small lake, as if hidden in the rocks. The area around the waterfall is truly a heavenly place, where in ancient times nymphs probably lived and the goddess Diana herself rested.

You can also sit in the shade of pine and cypress trees, admire the dense thickets of ivy, blooming wild asters and other plants. In addition, many hares, birds, chameleons live here, squirrels jump in the trees, and at great heights you can often see the silhouette of a soaring mountain eagle.

"Young" attraction

Previously, the approach to the Millomeris waterfall was dangerous and there were no tourists here, except perhaps tireless fans of extreme sports. But now a well-maintained road leads to it. hiking trail. For vacationers who are in a hurry, access by car is provided directly to the waterfall.

But if you want to visit the waterfall not just “for show”, go only on foot! For everyone who wants to fully enjoy a walk in the mountains, it is best to stay in the small town of Pano Platres, located at the top of the Troodos Mountains. About 200 m from the city there is a sign to the trail - even with all the desire it will be very difficult to get lost.

Walk, walk like that!

The descent to the foot of the waterfall is very picturesque. The rocky path in some places goes along the very edge of the cliff, but thanks to the wooden railings it is completely safe. Moreover, especially cool places wide steps were made. In a word, you can calmly admire nature and take pictures. For relaxation, there are comfortable benches located along the entire trail.

Without being distracted by local beauties and walking at a brisk pace, you will reach the waterfall in about 20 minutes. If you walk slowly, admiring the magnificent views and taking photographs in the most attractive places, then the descent will take you no more than 45 minutes. The climb will of course be longer, but no less interesting. In addition, when you return to Pano Platres, you will have a great time in a local tavern or cafe.

Fast and comfortable!

If you decide to drive to the waterfall by car, you will spend much less time. It’s true that finding a parking space is often quite difficult. Therefore, it is better to leave the car before reaching it. Experienced vacationing motorists recommend doing this at the “Dead End” sign. Besides, one way or another you will still have to walk - along the stairs leading to the waterfall.

Photo album

Cyprus can please you nearby nice waterfalls, so you definitely won’t waste your time. The most famous waterfall Cyprus is Caledonia. You can often hear the statement that this is the highest waterfall on the island (especially from guides), but this is not true, there are higher waterfalls, but this does not really matter. In any case, this waterfall is considered the most picturesque and popular among tourists (tens of thousands of tourists visit it every year). The waterfall is located at an altitude of 1330 meters above sea level, and its height is 1330 meters. The waterfall is integral part Cyprus Troodos National Park. So tourists can not only see the waterfall, but also take a walk through the park. For the convenience of tourists, special signs with inscriptions in several languages, including English, are installed in the park. At the foot of the waterfall there are benches where you can have a picnic and at the same time admire the rainbow created by the spray. You can get to the waterfall from the village of Troodos or the town of Psilo Dendro. In any case, you will have to walk a certain distance and cross in some places. mountain river, so the shoes should be as comfortable as possible.

The most high waterfall Cyprus is the Millomeris Falls, whose height is 15 meters, which is only two meters higher than the height of the Caledonia Falls. This waterfall is located on the crystal clear and coldest river Krios Potamos. Until a certain time, the waterfall was not popular among tourists, since the road to it was difficult to access, but not so long ago the road to it was cleared and dangerous stones were removed. And at the foot of the waterfall they built a bridge, thanks to which you can conveniently cross the river bed. In the vicinity of the waterfall you can find many plants, including immortelle, ivy, cypress trees, pine trees and much more. Of the forest inhabitants, lizards are most often found, but if you are lucky, you can see a hare, squirrel, chameleon or even a royal eagle.

The Hantara Falls is considered the noisiest waterfall in Cyprus (in some sources its name sounds like Handara). The waterfall is located on the Diplos Potamos River. Compared to previous waterfalls, this one cannot boast great height. It is located at an altitude of 1035 meters and its height is only eight meters. Tourists can combine a visit to the waterfall with a visit to the nearby trout farm, where they can buy fresh fish and then cook it. This waterfall is best visited with a tour, as a visit to this place is included in the jeep safari offered by local travel agencies.

On the Mesa River, whose name can be translated as “inner river”, is located the smallest waterfall in Cyprus - Mesa Potamos. The height of this waterfall is only seven meters, but the water falls very beautifully: first it falls on one platform, and then, sliding, falls on the second. Because of this, the waterfall is called double.

You can visit any of these waterfalls on your own, but in this case much will depend on which resort you plan to stay at. It is not always very convenient to get there by public transport, as you need to adapt to public transport(to some villages the bus runs once a day or even less often). As a result, you can spend the whole day just to see one waterfall. Renting a car isn't the best either. the best option, since you don’t know the local roads, and using a navigator can drive for a long and tedious time. As a result, it turns out that buying an excursion is the best option in this case.

Cyprus, of course, cannot boast of such huge waterfalls as Niagara or Iguazu, but on the island there are, although not large, very picturesque places.

There are quite a lot of waterfalls in the Troodos mountain range, among them: Caledonia, Hantara, Millomeris, Mesapotamos, Adonis and Green Valley waterfalls and others.

CALEDONIA

This is one of the most picturesque waterfalls, which is part of National Park Troodos, protected by the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. The waterfall is located at an altitude of 1330 meters above sea level on the Krios Potamos River. Its flows fall from a height of 13 meters. It got its name at the end XIX century. The waterfall reminded one of the Scots of his native Caledonia from childhood. History has not preserved the name of the traveler, but the name has remained unchanged since then. Tens of thousands of people visit Caledonia Falls every year. Once at the foot of the waterfall, you can have a small picnic.

MILLOMERIS

Millomeris Waterfall, like Caledonia, is located on the coldest river in Cyprus - Krios Potamos, near the village of Pano Platres. The height of the waterfall reaches 15 meters, so it is considered the highest on the island. The water in the waterfall is crystal clear, but very cold! True, this does not at all prevent many tourists from swimming here.
Previously, the waterfall was little known. After all, the road to it was difficult, steep and long. But a couple of years ago, the area near the waterfall was improved: stones were removed from the path and a wooden bridge was built, which made it much easier for travelers to cross the river bed. Nowadays it is possible to drive close to the waterfall by car, although this loses all the charm of walking along mountain paths.

HANTARA


Hantara Waterfall is located on the Diplos Potamos River, at an altitude of 1035 meters above sea level. The height of the waterfall itself reaches 8 meters. The waterfall got its name from the Greek word “andara”, meaning “the sound of water”. The area around the waterfall has been landscaped, there are information boards, a bridge has been made, a ford has been concreted and steps have been laid along the waterfall. It is best to combine a visit to the waterfall with a visit to the village of Fini, which is famous for its pottery.

MESA POTAMOS

This is the smallest waterfall. It is located on the Mesa Potamos River, northwest of the village of Saitas, at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level. The height of the waterfall itself reaches 7 meters. The water hits one platform of solid rock first and then slides down onto the second platform. That's why this waterfall is called double. You can combine a visit to the waterfall with a picnic arranged in a specially designated place with the same name Mesa Potamos. Having covered 200 meters along the path leading down, you can find yourself at the waterfall.

I recommend that guests of Cyprus visit at least one of the mountain waterfalls, so that when sharing their impressions of a trip to the island of Aphrodite, they can tell that in addition to the sea, beaches and ancient monuments, Cyprus also has natural beauty.

 

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