Flamingos
November to March.
An. Antoniou — CC BY-SA 3.0 · An. Antoniou — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dickelbers — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Héctor Ochoa "Robot8A" — CC BY-SA 4.0 · SaltLakeLarnaca — CC BY-SA 3.0 · An. Antoniou — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Héctor Ochoa "Robot8A" — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Radosław Botev — CC BY 3.0 pl
A network of four salt lakes west of Larnaca, the largest being Aliki, covering about 2.2 square km beside the airport road. It is one of the most important wetlands in Cyprus, protected under the Ramsar Convention and Natura 2000. The lake fills in winter and draws some 85 species of waterbirds, above all pink flamingos, which gather in their thousands to feed on tiny brine shrimp in the shallows. In summer the water dries away, leaving a bright white crust of salt. On the west bank Hala Sultan Tekke stands among palm trees, one of the loveliest sights in Larnaca. A walking and cycling trail with birdwatching points runs around the lake, and it is free and open. November to March is the time for flamingos; bring binoculars if you can, as the birds keep their distance from the shore.
November to March.
In summer.
Walk or cycle.
West of Larnaca, on the airport road
Roughly November to March, when the lake fills; bring binoculars, as the birds keep away from the shore.
