Larnaca Salt Lake

This is a whole network of four connected salt lakes in Cyprus, the largest of which is called Aliki. Together, they occupy about 2.2 km2, and the depth is ridiculous - on average a meter, so it is a bit difficult to drown here.

The lake lies to the west of Larnaca, just along the road to the local airport - it's hard to miss, as it actually greets you upon arrival.

In winter, when the lake is full of water and thousands of pink flamingos flock here (from two to twelve thousand birds). In the summer, the water evaporates, leaving a crust of salt and a smoky gray - a sight for an amateur.

On the shore stands Hala Sultan Tekke - one of the most revered shrines of Ottoman Islam, where Umm Haram, the nurse of the Prophet Muhammad, is buried. By now, the lake is recognized as an important ornithological area: about 85 species of waterfowl occur here.

Salinity is provided by seawater seeping through the porous rock between the lake and the sea. Salt was mined here until 1986, when it became too expensive. A local legend blames Saint Lazarus, who allegedly cursed the vineyard of an inhospitable hostess, turning it into a salt pan.