Kakopetria Forest
The Kakopetria Forest is situated in the Kakopetria village, in the Nicosia district. The forest is within the borders of the village and has an extent of 25.550 hectares. Most of the part of the forest is also part of the Troodos Mountain range and is a National Forest Park.
It is one of the most beautiful forests in Cyprus and has all its natural beauties, with nature trails and roads. The main nature trails are:
- The nature trail that begins from Xylovrysi Troodos – Mnimata Episkopon and ends at the Apotheri. Earlier on it was the main road towards Troodos.
- The nature trail that starts from Kannoures – Pezounokremmo and ends at Agio Nikolao tis Stegis.
The main locations of the forest are: Laxia tou Koufou , Skotini , Apotheri , Pezounokremmos , Zoumi, Neron tou Pefkou , Kokkinorotsos , Troullin tou Mouchtari , Livadi Papafilippou , Pitera , Mnimata Episkopon, Alas , Platania , Karvounas , Pikromiloudi , Kannoures , Fterikeri.
The main types of trees and bushes are: Calabrian Pine from the village until Pano Amianto, while Black Pine and Cypress of Troodos grow from there until the peaks of Mount Olympus. The two rivers, have plane trees and alder trees on their banks. The plane trees at the Platania Forest Station are most impressive. The main bushes are Latzies, Antrouklies, Sfendamies, and Sterakies, Wild Apple trees, Wild Rose trees and Xystaries.
Most of the Solia and Pitsilia villages receive drinking water from this forest. There are two rivers that flow in the forest, Garilli and Karkotis, which connect at a point in the village and form the Klario River that gives life to the valley of Solia.
Near the village is a camping and a picnic site, close to the Platania Forest Station. This station is the base for three forests district areas of Troodos, Limassol and Adelfoi.
The first fire lookout station of Troodos, operated in the location Moutti ton mimaton, above Mnimata ton Episkopon. The messages for fire were transferred by one of the two firefighters, who ran and spread the message to the Platania Forest Station. Today the protection of the forest is done by the fire station in Troodos. The messages are transferred via phones, radios and mobile phones.
During the Turkish period, there were resin processing units which handled the resin. One of these is still saved next to the location Pervoli. Another one is situated in the location Atsoupokamino, next to Pikromiloudi and a third one is located in the area Kaminoudi.
Underground chrome mines also operated in the locations of Nero tou Pefkou and Kannoures. A chrome factory operated near Agio Nikolao tis Stegis. Many villagers as well as people from the surrounding villagers found work in these mines.
