The Xyliatou water dam is found built on the Elia river and has a volume capacity of 1.430.000 cubic metres of water. It is a rockfill dam that overflows every year, creating beautiful images with its waterfalls.
The dam’s area is one of the best biotopes due to its snake called Natrix Natrix that is a very rare species and is in danger to become extinct. The water snake is totally harmless for humans. The visitor may meet it during his walk along the natural path that is found around the dam, but also in the picnic area that is present on the shores of the Elia river.
Fishing in the dam is ONLY permitted if you have special permission from the fisheries department of Cyprus. Otherwise, you may await a quite heavy fine or even imprisonment. At all seasons, the dam is a pole of attraction for thousands of visitors. Its location is a magnificent green valley that is surrounded by small hills. The thick pine wood starts from the overflow level and it covers all the landscape. On the perimetric path there are points of view, benches where a walker may take a rest, or admire the nature of the dam.
The shores are accessible to pedestrians as well as to cars. Once you reach the spillway there is a parking area for a small amount of cars and above it, there is a bridge that leads you to the starting point of the path of nature.
The Xyliatos dam and the picnic area, as well as the path of nature make a complete choice for the visitor. If you want to spend some hours of relaxation and observation on your own or with family, if you want to walk near and in a wonderful environment, then add the Xyliatos water dam in your schedule.
You will find it 42 kilometres away from Nicosia. On exiting the motorway of Nicosia - Akaki you carry on until you find a turn on your left for Orounta. You go straight past it and the next one which is Kato Moni and you take the turn on the right that takes you to Agia Marina - Xyliatou. After you pass both villages you will see the dam on your right after covering a distance of 2 kilometres.
