| The site of Faros Kato Pafou consists of the Pafos headland immediately to the west of Kato Pafos and Pafos castle and marina. The entire area lies within the Tombs of the Kings archaeological site a World Heritage Site that is one of the most important and most popular archaeological sites in Cyprus. The archaeological site is fenced in and includes the Paphos lighthouse, which sits on the highest point of the headland - a small hill of some 22 metres elevation. There are some small cliffs near the lighthouse hill. A number of excavations have taken place within the archaeological site (some of these ongoing) and a small number of buildings and several temporary structures housing excavated remains and information centres are present. The fenced-in area is dominated by open grassland with remnant patches of scrub and planted species. This area used to be grazed and browsed by goats and sheep but this activity has been restricted in recent years. Beyond and to the seaward side of the fenced-in archaeological area is a narrow coastal stretch with mostly rocky and some sandy shores. The sandy beaches are popular with bathers.Vegetation:Along most of the coastal part of the site (south and west, just outside the fenced archaeological site) there is typical vegetation of the Mediterranean Sea cliffs (habitat type 1240) with Crithmum maritimum, Frankenia hirsuta, Limonium virgatum, Limonium albidum ssp. cyprius, Limonium sinuatum, Silene sedoides, Sedum litoreum, Enarthrocarpus arcuatus and Cichorium spinosum.The sandy part of the site, which is degraded by human activities, comprises a narrow belt along the northwest part of site and it is sparsely colonised by Cakile maritima, Salsola kali and Mattthiola tricuspitata (habitat type 1210). A part of the sandy coast is flat and thickly covered by communities of Glaucium flavum, Limonium sinuatum, Matthiola tricuspidata, Cichorium spinosum, Cynodon dactylon, Salsola kali and Cakile maritime. These formations are most probably degradations of former embryonic dunes but today they do not constitute a representative habitat.A special type of embryonic shifting dunes (habitat type 2110) with mat-forming Echium angustifolium occurs at the north edge. The floristic composition of these communities is characterised by Echium angustifolium, which dominates, Plantago lagopus, Plantago coronopus ssp. commutata, Limonium sinuatum, Avena sp., Chrysanthemum coronarium, Heliotropium hirsutissimum, Crepis aspera, Eryngium maritimum, Anthemis tomentosa, Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum, Elymus farctus, Bromus spp., Cynodon dactylon etc.A single patch of Mediterranean salt medows (Juncetea maritimi) (habitat type1410) with Juncus accutus and Juncus heldreichianus occurs on a small depression between the maritime rocks and the sandy seashore.Mainly along the coast and also within the archaeological site there are colonies of Lycium sweinfurthii along with Asparagus stipularis, Noaea mucronata, Capparis spinosa. These have provisionally been assigned to habitat type 1430: Halo-nitrophilous scrubs (Pegano-Salsoletea). Other species participating in these communities include Noaea mucronata, Sarcopoterium spinosum and the endemic Bosea cypria, which occurs only on rocky places inland.Ziziphus lotus (habitat type 5220) does not form large colonies anywhere, but it occurs at a few places as an individual shrub or in small groups, along with Noaea mucronata and Asparagus stipularis. It is noteworthy that the site is the westernmost point of Ziziphus lotus distribution on the island.Phrygana vegetation (habitat type 5420) occurs on the top of the cliffs within the fenced archaeological site and consists of Sarcopoterium spinosum, Thymus capitatus, Phagnalon rupestre ssp. graecum, Noaea mucronata, Teucrium micropodioides, Teucrium divaricatum ssp. canescens. Echium angustifolium, Capparis spinosa, Ephedra fragilis ssp. campylopoda, Paronychia macrosepala; Cardopadium corymbosum and Hyparrhenia hirta are also sporadically present. The vertical cliffs lack the typical chasmophytic communities and host only sparse vegetation of Valantia hispida and Parietaria judaica.Woodlands dominated by Pistacia atlantica (habitat type 9320) are found to the east and central part. These formations occur as small or large groups of tall Pistacia atlantica with closed canopy and frequent occurrence of smaller trees. Olea europaea and Ceratonia siliqua are sporadic and most probably they have been planted. Also, Prunus dulcis (almond tree) and Carya pecan (pecan nut) are occasionally present as planted trees. In Cyprus, Pistacia atlantica is chiefly distributed to the southwest of the island, mainly as single tree in abandoned fields, field margins and rocky slopes and very rarely forms small and sparse stands. Very often it is found in yards of old houses, especially villages of the Pafos district, and near chapels.The vegetation of the larger part of the fenced archaeological site consists of synanthropic communities, which are apparently the result of overgrazing. These expanses are covered by Echium angustifolium, Limonium sinuatum, Phagnalon rupestre ssp. graecum, Echinops spinosissimus, Oryzopsis miliacea, Avena spp., Bromus spp., Asphodelus aestivus, Asparagus stipularis, Carlina involucrata ssp. cyprica, Salvia verbenaca, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Scolymus hispanicus, Hypericum triquetrifolium, Noaea mucronata, Verbascum sinuatum etc.Within the site there are plantations of exotic and indigenous species, especially around the archaeological monuments; the main alien species used in the plantations are Casuarina spp. Pinus spp., Acacia saligna and Dodonea viscose, whereas the indigenous are Pistacia lentiscus, Nerium oleander and Atriplex halimus. Furthermore, on disturbed and waste land adventive species such as Nicotiana glauca and Withania somnifera are frequent.A dirt road -accessible to cars- runs along the perimeter of the fenced-in archaeological area on the seaward edges of the site between the fence and the coastal strip. A number of walking tracks also exist in the area just behind the coastal strip. |