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Добро пожаловать к этому международному месту открытки изображения. Benvenuto a questo luogo internazionale della cartolina di immagine. Καλωσορίστε σε αυτήν την διεθνή περιοχή καρτών εικόνων. Willkommen zu diesem internationalen Abbildungspostkarteaufstellungsort. Bienvenue à cet emplacement international de carte postale. Onthaal aan deze Internationale plaats van de beeldprentbriefkaar. Welcome to this International picture postcard site. (Please Click on the Picture for an Enlarged View)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Aphrodite's Baths

Akamas, is a promontory and cape at the northwest extremity of Cyprus area of 230 square kilometres. Ptolemy described it as a thickly wooded headland, divided into two by summits [a mountain range] rising towards the north. The peninsula is named after a son of Theseus , hero of the Trojan War and founder of the city-kingdom of Soli.
Until the year 2000, the peninsula was used by the British Army and Navy for military exercises and as a firing range. Under the 1960 Treaty of Establishment, the British Army was allowed to use the Akamas for exercises for up to 70 days a year. 
At the southern end of the peninsula is the town of Pegeia and on its northeast side the town of Polis.
Due to the mountainous nature of the peninsula there are no roads running through its heartland. Furthermore some roads marked on Cypriot road maps of the area are not tarmaced. Visitor attractions in Akamas include a loggerhead turtle sanctuary and the Baths of Aphrodite where the goddess is said to have bathed, near Polis. As the area is therefore relatively inaccessible, there is a large diversity of flora and fauna there. Indeed the European Environment Agency noted that it was one of only 22 areas of endemism in Europe. This however looks like it may be threatened by tourist development and the planned A7 motorway between Polis and  Paphos; organisations such as the Green Party of Cyprus, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth are taking action to protect the area.
This natural beauty spot is steeped in the myths and legends of Cyprus. Set in a pool grotto, surrounded by greenery, the site is said to be the place where Aphrodite, goddess of Love, bathed. According to local folktale, bathing in the pools water, could reduce your age by about 10 years, although eels have been placed in the water in the past to stop people from getting in the water. Legend also has it that Aphrodite met her most famous lover, Adonis at this spring. Thank you Merja for this pretty card. Lucky Adonis ;-))

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