The river of Agios Minas has its sources on the south slopes of the mountain peaks of Kionia where you will also find the village of Vavatsinia. It passes on the west side of the chapel of Panagia tis Agapis, as well as on the northeast side of the monastery of Agios Minas from which it got its name.
From there it connects to different other small torrents and they form the river of Maroni that ends up a few kilometres northeast in the diversion dam of Maroni.
In the course of the river, it created few very beautiful gorges where the water flows “wild” as well as landscapes that “challenge” you to admire them.
It is very difficult for someone to follow the course of the river, when its bed is filled with water, since the shores are covered with trees and thick bushes. There are some points where the visitor may go close enough to the bed and to take a rest under the shades of the trees. On its shores many wildflowers grow, this is why we should remind you of the strict law that exists about cutting or derooting of wildflowers.
On its bet, the river conserves water for many months. As a result, quite a few animals, small and big get close to it to drink water. The thick plantation as well as the inaccessible gorges attract many snakes. Even though in Cyprus there is only one kind of snake whose poison is deadly and it is somewhat rare to come across it, it is good to take care.
If you come across it, do not disturb it, and do not kill it since it is very good for the Cypriot countryside and it never attacks unless it feels threatened. You may see it “laying” under the sun early in the morning, and later on it hides in shaded areas. When it gets hungry it ambushes in the pathways late in the afternoon, waiting for small animals to pass by. You will recognise it by its triangular head and its very short tail. It is called Viper – Macrovipera lebetina
