You can learn all about this in the centre if you go inside, it's very well set out, but in case you are caching and dashing...
The southernmost point of the Akrotiri peninsula, which also happens to be the southernmost point of Cyprus itself, was a small island millions of years ago. The Akrotiri salt lake is therefore a result of the gradual unification of the surrounding land. At the same time, the southern cliffs of the peninsula host the earliest known archaeological site in Cyprus, at a region known as ‘Aetokremmos’. This is a hunter-gatherer site dated to 12,000 years ago with findings which include bones of pigmy hippos and pigmy elephants.
The Centre’s work is primarily promoted through educational programmes and exhibits. Most common are the organized school visits, but individuals, tourists, families and other groups which are interested in environmental information are more than welcome.
The biodiversity of the peninsula is of exceptional interest . Two hundred and sixty bird species have been recorded on the peninsula, representing an incredible 70% of the total of 370 species found in Cyprus. The majority of them are migratory and use the area as a staging post. This is due to the fact that the peninsula is the closest point to Africa. Moreover, Akrotiri beaches are among the few nesting sites on the island for green and loggerhead turtles, with various species of mammals and insect also recorded.
The highlight these days is of course the arrival of thousands of flamingos to the Salt Lake. They usually come from Turkey and Spain. Their arrival depends on the amount of water in our two salt lakes and on the weather conditions in the country of origin. Usually, they arrive by the end of October and stay for most of winter. Fairy shrimp, which is found in the salt lake is their food source, and the same flamingos are to be found in both the Akrotiri and Larnaca salt lakes; they just come and go from one to the another.
The cache is well camouflaged for the location and contains log, dinky pencil and some swaps. Please note the centre is only open during daytime hours, then they lock the gates. The Centre is open 8am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, closed on Saturday and open on Sunday 10am to 5 pm.