Troodos Mountains

The Troodos Mountains are known for containing an undisturbed ophiolite sequence, the Troodos Ophiolite. The range rose slowly from the sea as a result of the collision between the African and European tectonic plates, a process that eventually formed the island of Cyprus. As this process slowed and nearly ceased, the rock formations remained largely intact, while subsequent erosion exposed the former magma chamber beneath the mountains, revealing intact rocks and petrified pillow lava formed millions of years ago - an excellent example of ophiolite stratigraphy. The observations of the Troodos ophiolite by Ian Graham Gass and co-workers were among the pieces of evidence that led to the theory of seafloor spreading. A detailed descriptive geological survey of Troodos was published in 1959. Although it predates the modern theory of plate tectonics, it provides exhaustive descriptions of rocks and structures. ==Climate==

Like the rest of Cyprus, the climate is Mediterranean but it has somewhat greater diurnal ranges in temperature than coastal areas. For example, at Prodromos, daily mean temperatures are around in January and in July. {{Weather box ==Flora and fauna==

The most ubiquitous trees in the Troodos mountains are the Turkish pine (Pinus brutia) and the golden oak (Quercus alnifolia). and Berberis cretica. The Cyprus cedar (Cedrus libani subsp. brevifolia) occurs at the highest peaks. Chief among the fauna is the endangered Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion). The venomous Cypriot blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina lebentina) is present in the mountains, as well as a rich bird population, including the common raven (Corvus corax), Bonelli's eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus), Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) and the Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). ==Churches==

The region is known for its many Byzantine churches and monasteries, richly decorated with murals, of which the Kykkos monastery is the richest and most famous. Nine churches and one monastery in Troodos together form a World Heritage Site, originally inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1985. The nine Byzantine churches are: • Stavros tou Agiasmati • Panagia tou Araka • Timiou Stavrou at Pelendri • Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis • Panagia Podithou • Assinou • Agios Ioannis Lampadistis at Kalopanagiotis • Panagia tou Moutoula • Archangel Michael at Pedoulas • Transfiguration of the Saviour Palaichori File:Stavros Agiasmati.JPG|Church in spring ==Selected villages== • Agros • Agios Epifanios Oreinis • Arsos • Dora • Evrychou • Farmakas • Fikardou • Galata • Kakopetria • Kalopanagiotis • Koilani • Kouka • Kourdali • Kyperounta • Lania • Louvaras • Malia • Marathassa Valley • Moutoullas • Omodos • Pachna • Palaichori Oreinis • Pedoulas • Pelendri • Phini • Platres • Prastio • Prodromos • Spilia • Vasa Koilaniou ==Gallery==

File:Troodos Mountains (Cyprus).jpg|Troodos Mountains File:Lazanias.JPG|Lazanias village File:Pinus nigra Troodos.jpg|Troodos black pines are 3,000 years old File:Cedars Tripylos.JPG|Forests in Troodos Mountains File:Pinus brutia forest Cyprus.jpg|Pinus brutia, foothills of Troodos Mountains File:Troodos12.jpg|River tributary in Troodos File:PARAKENTRO 2.jpg|Parakentro is a non-profit cultural centre in Lemythou village File:Millomeris Waterfall - Καταρράκτης του Μιλλομέρη.JPG|Millomeris Waterfall, Platres File:Milia Bridge - Γεφύρι της Μηλιάς.JPG|Milia Bridge, Platres File:TzielefosBridgeCyprusMar152023 02.jpg|Tzielefos bridge File:StatueArchbishopMakariosIIINikosKotziamanisMar162023 04.jpg|The statue of Archbishop Makarios III near the Kykkos Monastery File:OmodosMar152023 02.jpg|Omodos File:Kalidonia Waterfall.JPG|Kalidonia Waterfall, Platres File:Troodos Mountains 2.JPG|Part of Troodos Mountains File:Farmakas Mountains, Cyprus.jpg|View of Farmakas region File:Prodromos in Winter.jpg|Prodromos in winter File:Road through the woods (15425086000).jpg|Road through the forest File:Troodos Mountains 1957.jpg|Troodos Mountains in 1957 ==See also==