Cyprus Walking Friends

Troodos Mountains

Troodos, pronounced tro-odos, is the general description given to the major mountain region that stretches east to west across the centre of the island of Cyprus.

It consists of six areas; the actual Troodos District around the highest mountain Olympus; Pitsilia to the east of Olympus, with the Madhari ridge and mount Adelphi; Machairas to the far east of the mountain range centred on mount Kionia; the Solea and Marathassa valleys running north from Olympus, and the Krassochorio, wine villages to the South.

The Troodos mountain range formed as ocean crust 26247 feet below sea level, around 100 million years ago. Twenty million years ago the range appeared above the sea thrust up by complex geological forces. By a million years ago it had reached its current height of 6562 feet.

A million years of weathering have given Troodos its distinct rounded shape with a thick cover of rich soils. These soils and the climate have combined to produce extensive forests which have been exploited by man and have renewed themselves many times over. At different altitudes and locations, different soils and micro- climates have brought about distinct landscapes

The high forest around Olympus, with its Black Pine, Juniper, and Cedar, gives way to Maquis forest of Calabrian Pine, Cypress, and Golden Oak at lower levels. The fertile Marathasa valley is known for its fruits, particularly cherries, and its sulphur springs, while the Solea valley is famous for apples. In the Krassochorio area, on the chalk soils to the south of Troodos grow grapes, olives, and carobs. There are a huge variety of wild flowers and shrubs in Troodos, over 1000 species blooming at various times throughout the year depending on the altitude. Many perennials bloom twice, in the spring and in the autumn.

The rocks of the mountains hold precious minerals coveted by successions of invaders and occupiers of Cyprus. Gold, silver, copper, and chromite from Cyprus fuelled the economies of the Mediterranean from ancient times. The remains of these activities can still be seen in the Troodos National Park around Olympus.

The Troodos region has many beautiful old villages with a distinct architecture, very evident in places such as Kakopetria in the Solea Valley. In these villages traditional ways of life based on agriculture and local crafts continue. Troodos is also the traditional home of the Greek Orthodox church of Cyprus. Many of the region's churches and monasteries date back to the 11th and 12th centuries, and a number are listed as of world heritage status by UNESCO.

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