Besparmak Mountains
The Besparmak Mountains stretch like a limestone backbone along the northern coast of Cyprus, parallel to the Mediterranean for approximately 160 kilometers. Known also as the Kyrenia Mountains or Pentadaktylos, this narrow ridge rises abruptly from the coastal plain to create one of the island's most dramatic landscapes. The name Besparmak translates to five fingers in Turkish, referring to a distinctive peak that resembles an outstretched hand. Ancient Limestone from the Mesozoic Era The range consists primarily of hard crystalline limestone with some dolomite and marble formations dating to the Mesozoic period, formed between 250 and 65 million years ago beneath ancient seas. Unlike the volcanic Troodos Mountains in southern Cyprus, this northern range represents sedimentary formations from the Permian to Middle Miocene periods, pushed upward by collision of African and Eurasian tectonic plates. The highest peak, Mount Selvili Tepe, reaches 1,024 meters near Lapta. While only half the height of Troodos, the Kyrenia Mountains appear more imposing because they rise suddenly from the flat Mesaoria plain. The porous limestone acts as a natural filter, creating mountain aquifers that supply nearly all towns and villages in northern Cyprus. Endemic Plants on Limestone Cliffs The limestone cliffs support diverse flora. Cyprus hosts 1,750 native plant species, of which 128 are endemic. The Kyrenia range contains 57 endemic species, concentrated at higher…
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