Day 1, Locality 5

Troodos ski centre car park, near Troodos village:

At this locality, blocks of mantle harzburgite are available for examination and collection. Mantle mineralogy can be examined, and related to mantle melting and magma generation. Tectonite fabrics can also be examined. Alteration and serpentinisation of the mantle will also be discussed, and magma chamber processes reviewed.

This locality gives a good view of Mt. Olympos summit, with its trademark 'golfballs'. These were built at the height of the Cold War and housed (then) state-of-the-art OTH (Over The Horizon) radar. Using ionospheric reflection Cyprus happened to be at just the right distance to enable missile tests to be monitored deep inside Russian territory. Although largely superseded by satellites, they are now used to keep watch on activities in Iraq and Iran !

To the north and west of the Troodos lies the lower ground of Morphou, and the coast, although sometimes the view of the bay is obscured by dust haze from the Sahara. Stretching the entire length of the island, the fertile soil of the Morphou plain used to be the 'bread basket' of Cyprus. Much of it is now in Turkish hands and less productive.