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Churches,
Monasteries, Archeological sites |
Painted Churches in the Troodos Region 1985/2001 (extension
to include the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour) (C ii, iii,
iv) This region is characterized by one of the largest groups of
churches and monasteries of the former Byzantine Empire. The complex of
ten monuments included on the World Heritage List, all richly decorated
with murals, provides an overview of Byzantine and post-Byzantine
painting in Cyprus. They range from small churches whose rural
architectural style is in stark contrast to their highly refined
decoration, to monasteries such as that of St John Lampadistis.
The Akamas Peninsula, one site with specific ecological importance is
situated at the western end of the island of Cyprus. The area includes
scrubland and beaches to which sea turtles come to lay their eggs. It is
the habitat of many endemic and rare species of wild fauna and flora
included in the Appendices to the Bern Convention. The turtles Chelonia
mydas and Caretta caretta are found there, as are Tulipa cypria and
Allysum akamasicum. The occasional presence of the Mediterranean monk
seal Monachus monachus as well as traces of other species included in
the Appendices to the Bern Convention have also been observed: Crocidura
russula cypria, Microchiroptera, Cyrtodactylus kotschyi, Stellio stelion
(Agama stellio), Chamaeleo chamaeleon, Ophisops elegans, Ablephrus
kitaibelii, Chalcides ocellatus, Coluber jugularis, Telescopus fallax,
Vipera lebetina, Bufo viridis.
The area is also important for birds, including the endemic Oenanthe
cypriaca and Sylvia melanothorax, as well as a remarkable assemblage of
Mediterranean species such as Sylvia conspicillata, Lanins nubicus,
Emberiza melanocephala and Emberiza cesia.
Sea turtles (Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta), which nest on the
beaches are protected by the 1961 Fishery Act, updated in 1990, and by
regulations concerning the conservation of protected species and
habitats which are used as breedinggrounds. The area in question
includes the Lara and Toxeftra beaches, breedinggrounds for Chelonia
mydas [18].
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