Limassol Salt Lake
Limassol Salt Lake (also known as Akrotiri Salt Lake) is a large salt-lake in the Western Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia. It is the largest inland body of water in the territiory and indeed in the whole island of Cyprus.
The lake is in the island's southernmost peninsula, at 34°37’0"N, 32°58’0"E, due southeast of the sprawling city of Limassol (in the Republic of Cyprus) from which it is named.
The area of the lake is four square miles. Its lowest point is 9 feet below sea level and at its deepest point the water depth measures about three feet.[1]
Geologists hypothesize the lake was formed over the gradual joining of an offshore islet off the southern coast of Cyprus.[2]
Environmental protection
The lake is considered to be one of the eastern Mediterranean region's most important wetlands. The fact that the water level over 50 percent of the lake is less than one foot deep attracts thousands of wading birds to use it as a stopover during the migration seasons between Africa and Europe. Birdlife International estimates that between 2,000 and 20,000 Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) spend the winter months on the lake.[3]
It is listed as an important wetland under the Ramsar Convention.
In 2003 the British Ministry of Defence caused some controversy by constructing two gigantic antennae as part of it radio listening post network in the Middle East.[4]
Local and European environmentalists are concerned that the proximity of the listening posts to this ecosystem could have a significant impact on the wildlife.,[5][6][7]
Gallery
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Limassol Salt Lake) |
References
- ↑ Σημαντικές Περιοχές για τα Πουλιά της Κύπρου (Important areas for the Birds of Cyprus), by Ζώτος Σάββας. Birdlife (Cyprus) booklet publication
- ↑ School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton University
- ↑ Birdlife International [1]
- ↑ Britain got ‘one-time-only’ deal on antennae (Cyprus Mail archive article - Friday, December 3, 2004) [2]
- ↑ EFGP 3rd Congress, Berlin, Germany, 17–19 May 2002 Adopted resolution Cyprus: British military antennas. [3]
- ↑ Birdlife Cyprus Newsletter [4]
- ↑ Ramsar mission report, Akrotiri Wetland Complex, Cyprus, 17–21 June 2002 [5]
