Sketch of the Physical Nature of (Jyprns. 



winter time penetrates into the basins; but in the course of spring' and summer the water little by little 

 evaporates, leaving on the bottom a crust of salt several inches thick. 



Generally within 4 — 6 km. off the coast the sea surrounding Cyprus attains to a depth of 100 m., 

 and at greater distances the depths are rapidly increasing. To the east, south and west the depths are 

 considerably larger than to the north, but even here an uplift of about 660 m. would be necessary to 

 unite the island with the mainland of Asia Minor. 



b. Mountains. 



In the physiognomy of Cyprus a main featui-e is constituted by both the parallel ranges of moun- 

 tains, one of which almost filling up the southern half of the island, and the other one like a sharp crest 

 giving prominence to its northern coast. 



The Troodos-mountains, as I in default of a native collective designation of the whole range 

 will name the southern mountains after their centi'al and loftiest part, consist of a rocky mass with numerous 

 branches. To the west and south the ranges are prolonged to the very coast, in the figuration of which 

 they have a part. The chief direction of the mountain-masses is from WNW to ESE, and the watershed 

 forms a curve, in details winding to and from, but as a whole regular and slightly convex towards the 

 south. Along this curve the highest summits are situated. Counted from the west they are as follows: 

 Lavramis (900 m.), Sakcharu (1 216 m), Khorteri (1 297 m.), Irka Steratsa (1 414 m.), Kykko Vuni (1 326 m.), 

 Chionistra (1953 m.), Madhari (1617 m.), Paputsa (1562 m.), Stavropevko (1240 m.), Silinidon Muti 

 (1404 m.), Kionia (1 425 m.), Prosevkhi (892 m.), Aetomuti (696 m.). Its proper termination the mountain- 

 chain reaches in the picturesque cone of Stavrovuni (689 m.) near Larnaka, but a lower range of elevated 

 ground may be pursued in its production eastwards, ending in the calcareous rocks of Capo Greco. 



Chionistra is the highest point, not only of the Troodos-mountains, but of all Cyprus. From the 

 cairn on its top the island may be overlooked in nearly its whole extension, and in tine weather there 

 is even a magnificent view of the snow-covered mountains of Caramania beyond the sea. From Chionistra 

 the heights are decreasing little by little in both directions, as will be seen from the figures given above. 



In its main features the relief of the mountains has been sculptured through the action of I'unning 

 water. Both on their northern and southern side a great number of valleys have been eroded by the 

 rivulets, who, following the shortest way and often rushing down, seek to the low land. In most cases the 

 valley-sides are rather steep, and to a great extent covered by loose materials, which have slid down. 

 Where the mountain consists of solid igneous rocks, the rivers have in some places excavated narrow, 

 caiion-like ra^^nes, e. g. in the environs of the monastery of Makhaeras. The valleys are separated through 

 ridges of varying breadth, the remains left from a mountain plateau, more closely tied together in earlier 

 periods. Also the main ridge itself in several parts has been reduced into a sharp and narrow crest. 



Different from the Troodos-mountains the Northern range forms a single, not ramified mountain- 

 wall, running in a slight curve, parallel with the chief direction of the former mountains, along the north- 

 coast in its whole extension from Cape Kormakiti to Cape Hag. Andreas. The northern chain attains but 

 to a little more than half the height of the Troodos, but far surpasses it as to scratched contours, and 

 can show several parts of considerable and wild beauty. On both sides the slopes of the range are generally 

 abruptly rising, and the crest is crowned by a series of precipitous summits, situated at a short distance from 

 each-other. Beginning from the west, the most important tops are as follows: Kornos(941 m.), Akromandra 

 (1019 m.). Hag. Hilarion (727 m.), Trypa Vuni (940 m.), Buftavento (954 m.), Karkotissa (919 m.), Penta- 

 daktylos (733 m.), Jaila (934 m.), Palaea Vryi (820 m ), Zygo (518 m.), Olymbos (741 m.), Sina (725 m.), 

 Kantara (611 m.), Kavalaropetra (320 m.), .luti (252 m.). Towards the west the termination of the mountain- 

 range is rather sudden while in the east it graduates into the lower, ridgy foreland of Karpas. 



The most remarkable incision into the northern range is the defile of Kyrenia, through which the 

 carriagc-i'oad to Nikosia has been laid. The highest point of the I'oad is about SCO m. above the sea. 



