Ezousa River
| Ezousa River | |
|---|---|
Course within Cyprus | |
| Native name | Έζουσα (Greek) |
| Location | |
| Country | Cyprus |
| District | Paphos District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Slopes of Tripylos (Troodos), east of the Stavros tis Psokas forest station |
| Mouth | Mediterranean Sea |
• location | Near Acheleia / Geroskipou, east of Paphos International Airport |
| Length | 41 km |
The Ezousa River is a river in the Paphos District of Cyprus. With a length of about 41 km (25 mi), it is commonly listed as the sixth-longest river on the island.[1][2]
Course
The river rises high on the northern slopes of the Troodos Mountains, on the Tripylos massif east of the Stavros tis Psokas forestry station, and flows generally south through the uplands and the valley often referred to as the Ezousa Valley. It passes near the villages of Episkopi, Kallepeia, and Tsada before continuing towards the coastal plain, entering the Mediterranean Sea on the east side of Paphos near Acheleia/Geroskipou, close to Paphos International Airport.[1][3][4]
Hydrology and dams
The river is impounded by the Kannaviou Dam, a concrete-face rockfill dam (CFRD) completed in the mid-2000s with a reservoir capacity of about 18 million m³. The dam is located on the Ezousa upstream of the valley settlements and forms a key element of regional water supply and irrigation infrastructure.[5][6]
Ecology and protection
Sections of the valley and adjoining cliffs are protected under the Natura 2000 network. The Koilada Ezousas Special Protection Area (site code CY4000021) covers parts of the watershed important for birds, and the Kremmoi Ezousas site (CY4000022) protects additional cliff and valley habitats.[7][8] The valley is also recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) owing to its bird communities and varied vegetation mosaics.[9]
Recreation
Waymarked paths and circular trails traverse parts of the Ezousa Valley, including a loop beginning at the Episkopi Environmental Information Centre and additional routes around the Minthis uplands and the Kannaviou reservoir.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Ezousa River". Cyprus Island. 6 May 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Ezousas River – Ayia Varvara". Ayia Varvara Community Council. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Ezousa Valley". Episkopi Environmental Information Centre. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Cyprus considers new Paphos airport access road through Ezousas estuary SPA". In-Cyprus. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Kannaviou Dam". Cyprus Island. May 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ Antoniou, Demos (2006). Innovative methods for the Kannaviou CFRD in Cyprus (PDF) (Report). Water Development Department, Government of Cyprus. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
"Kannaviou dam is located on the Ezousa River… The reservoir capacity [is] 18 MCM."
- ^ "Natura 2000 — Standard Data Form (CY4000021)" (PDF). Department of Environment, Cyprus. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "EUNIS: Kremmoi Ezousas (CY4000022)". European Environment Agency. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Ezousa Valley and Cliffs (IBA)". BirdLife International. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Ezousa Walking Trail (Circular)". VisitCyprus (Deputy Ministry of Tourism). 25 January 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ^ "Kannaviou Reservoir – Ezousa River (trail)". AllTrails. Retrieved 30 August 2025.