مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Historical Geography Perspective of Salt in Cyprus

Abstract :

Salt is an important source that conserved its value throughout the history. It has given its name to cities and states, been a subject of many conflicts and even used as an equivalent of the money. Salt that has been derived from mines, seas – oceans and salt lakes is being widely used in various areas ranging from food drying in chemical industry to opening of the roads in snow. The diaries of travellers, archives and official records implied that Cyprus Island was a rich source for salt mining. The two lakes; Larnaca and Akrotiri, which a separate importance had been attributed throughout the history of the Island, had an impact on both the economy and the trade in the Mediterranean region. Today, salt is not derived from either of these lakes and due to their ecological importance they have been used as Recreation Centers and shelters for the migratory birds. In this study, by taking advantage of historical documents, we are aiming to analyze the two important salt sources of Cyprus in terms of historical geography and to perform environmental analyses on site in order to establish the current status of these two lakes