"The site, located in the Larnaka District, comprises a Salt Lake Complex, and the so-called Hala Sultan Tekke, which is a mosque of great importance for the Muslim world. The site also includes a prehistoric settlement, suggesting the diachronic habitation of the region and the assimilation of different cultural traits over time.
In particular, the coastal Salt Lake Complex, covering an area of about 1761 ha, consists of four main lakes, the main Salt Lake (Alyki), Orphani, Soros and the small Airport Lake, which was part of the Orphani Lake. The wetland includes extensive halophytic communities on the shores of the lakes and in the areas between the lakes and the sea. More specifically, the lakes of the Larnaka Salt Lake complex are inter-related lakes and they vary among them from an ecological point of view. It is also one of the two main wetlands in Cyprus of international ecological significance. The hydrological balance of the lakes plays an important role in the ecological equilibrium of the wetland (including flora and fauna) and is maintained with rainfall, surface runoff, underground flow from aquifers and possibly seawater intrusion. Most significantly, they comprise an important overwintering and stopover area for birds and other species (see below). Due to its ecological significance, the whole area is included in the Natura 2000 Network, both as a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area. Moreover, the main Salt Lake (Alyki) is since 2001 a Ramsar site as it is considered to be a wetland of international importance."
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
Hala Sultan Tekke and Salt Lake with flamingos, Larnaca, Cyprus. Thanks to Ronald of Sweden for mailing from Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus. Postcard was mailed on July 24, 2018 and missent to Mumbai, India and arrived in Penang island on August 23, 2018.
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