Macheras National Forest Park

About

In a general sense, the Machairas Forest is the forested area at the eastern end of the Troodos mountain range or massif in south-central Cyprus and, more specifically, it is a state forest and national park covering around 46.37 km2 (17.90 mi2) in the northern foot-hills of Kionia Peak, the highest point in the eastern Troodos.

Machairas forest is a Mediterranean type forest consisting primarily of Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia), which is similar to the Aleppo pine, and Golden Oak (Quercus alnifolia), the national tree of Cyprus. In some areas these are mixed together and in others they occur separately.

Machairas Forest is the eastern part of the Troodos massif (an ophiolite complex). The highest point is Kionia peak at 1,423 m (4,669 ft), but to the east the forest is only 400 m (1,300 ft) high. As well as the State Forest, there is private land around Machairas Monastery. This monastery has a commanding position at the head of a wooded valley on one of the highest available slopes of Kionia Peak. The forest is named after this monastery, which itself has a name derived from the Greek word for sword or knife. Rainfall ranges from 446 mm (17.6 in) to 707 mm (27.8 in)...