One of the most full picnic areas is found in the shadow of the dam in the Xyliatos village and it is called the “Xyliatos dam picnic site”.
It integrated the programme “nature 2000” and it occupies an area of land of about 7 hectares. It is an area that is covered by Alnus orientalis, Pine trees, Platanaceae, Terebinths, Cistus and many other kinds of plants and trees that create a wonderful painting with their colours.
The Elia riverbed, with its huge stones, create a beautiful, wild landscape. The spillway on the other side fills you with awe even when water does not run through it, since it has the form of a waterfall. At periods when it overflows the view is even more magical.
There is a small lake at the bottom of the dam, most probably created on purpose from a leakage coming from the dam, to enrich the aquifers. A wooden bridge, under the shady Terebinths, joins the two shores of the river, where the picnic area is extended.
The place provides the visitor with everything an exigent excursionist, such as a Cypriot, will need. The possibilities and facilities that are at your disposal are:
Ten barbeque grills for safe wood burning and for cooking the traditional “souvla”, most of which are under shelter.
One hundred and one wooden tables for 8 people each. Some are adapted for people with reduced accessibility. Many of these are under shelter.
Five spots with water taps - a play place for children. Six points with sanitary and toilets.
A path for the observation of nature starting from the picnic area and after covering a distance of 3,8 kilometres around the place and the dam, it ends up back in the picnic area. The path demands appropriate preparation of the walker since it is graded on a difficulty scale of 2 (3 = very difficult). On your way, there is a possibility that you meet a very rare species of snake that is the Cypriot water snake called Natrix Natrix. It is a snake belonging to the species in danger of becoming extinct, and the most important part is that it is not at all dangerous for human beings. As such, even if you meet it, do not bother it, since the dam and the picnic area are its natural environment and it biotope. It is protected by law and the government, and trespassing this law may lead to heavy fines and even imprisonment.
The picnic area may be one of few where people with limited accessibility can have a certain ease to use. At all levels there are adequate ramps for wheels to be able to pass. There are also toilets for these people.
The “Xyliatos dam picnic area” is found 42 kilometres from Nicosia. On exiting the motorway of Nicosia - Akaki, you carry on until you find the turn on your left that leads to Orounta. You go straight past the Orounta village and the next one which is Kato Moni and you take the turn on your right that leads to Agia Marina Xyliatou. After you pass both of these villages, once you cover a distance of 2 kilometres you will find a leading sign that takes you to Kapoura and the picnic area. The distance from the exit is 200 metres and it is consisted of a forest dirt road.
