Larnaca Salt Lake

The Larnaca Salt Lake is a complex of four interconnected salt lakes just west of the city, the largest of which covers around 2.2 square kilometres. In summer the lakes dry out completely and the salt crystallises white across the flats. From autumn through spring they fill with water and become one of the best birdwatching spots in Cyprus, hosting thousands of greater flamingos, herons, ducks, and waders.

A 3-kilometre walking trail runs along the northern shore, with good views over the water and across to Hala Sultan Tekke mosque on the far bank. The flamingos typically arrive from October and are usually present until March; at peak times several thousand birds can be visible at once. The lake is managed as a protected area and the trail is accessible year-round. On cold winter days with the birds feeding in the shallow water, it is one of the most unexpectedly rewarding sights in Cyprus.

things to do sight
A story
The salt lake was once the harbour of a Bronze Age settlement, and the flat basin still preserves traces of the ancient city around its edges. According to a local legend, the lake was created as a punishment: the saint Lazarus asked a vineyard owner for grapes, was refused, and cursed the vineyard to become a salt lake. Ancient myths almost always encode a real observation — the basin really was a productive vineyard in antiquity before the drainage pattern changed.