The Abandoned Hospital at Amiantos Asbestos Mines

[Dominic]

The Cyprus Asbestos Mine is situated right in the heart of Troodos forest. Following a continuous operation of 84 years, the mine came to a sudden closure in 1988, leaving behind large volumes of waste tips, a badly designed mine pit and an unacceptable environmental scar to an otherwise heavily forested natural beauty area.

It also left behind a hospital, which now stands abandoned on the other side of the valley. While environmental steps have been taken to turn the area near the mines into a nature park, the hospital has been let to nature.

Though a fair journey from Paphos, it makes an excellent day trip. The nature park has a lovely picnic area and the hospital is accessible from the main road, so you don't need a 4x4 to explore. And explore you should, as our photos will reveal..

Read the article and chat about it below...

[Anarita John]

I would be very wary about visiting anywhere that has asbestos waste. In Rochdale we had Turners Asbestos factory. People who were not exposed to high levels of asbestos died from asbestosis. eg people who worked in the offices and even people who did not even work at the factory.
I will probably be accused of scaremongering. I do not know a lot about it but I remember Squirrel Smith our former mp being accused of lying to parliament about asbestos safety.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spodden_V ... ontroversy

[Devil]

The mysterious object was the circulation pump for the central heating. I didn't try translating the panel but saw the doctor had a transliterated English name.

[Dominic]

We didn't visit anywhere that had asbestos waste. Those areas were all safely cordoned off.

[cyprusmax47]

picture no 34 could be a morgue slab with the sink in the corner. (maybe I am watching too many crime films)

Max

[PaphosAL]

Your mystery device in photo #26 (Boiler Room) would appear to me to a plain and simple HW circulation pump that has been decomissioned and made electrically safe, Dominic.

Above and below the device, you can see insuated wrapping. To the left, you can see a blue mains cable going into a small square black junction box. From there is a now disconnected red 16 or 20mm flexi that was once hooked up to the pump, with some more wires inside!

Cheers- AL

[Yioula]

Fascinating........I wonder if they used asbestos in the construction of the hospital
Great blog again......

[Dominic]

We have wondered about some of the irrigation systems you see in the valleys around Paphos. They appear to be made of asbestos themselves, though we are by no means experts. Next time i am driving up Ezousa Valley (this happens more times than is strictly necessary) I will take some close ups so we can see.

[DavidatLWH]

Brings back memories of my first visit to Cyprus, a walking holiday in the Troodos in the 1980's. I didn't visit the mine or hospital, of course, but was aware of it. My, what an eyesore the mine was then.

It's hard to imagine 5,000 people working there - a significant proportion of the Cyprus workforce.

By the way, Dominic, the link in the text below the last image doesn't work (for me, anyway). Is it meant to be one of these:

http://www.amiandos.eu/en/

http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/wdd/Wdd.nsf/A ... penElement

Both are fascinating.

[aphrodite]

From a couple of words I picked out from the plaque, I'm wondering if the hospital was a school of dentistry? I guess a local would have more accurate information.

[Dominic]

Brings back memories of my first visit to Cyprus, a walking holiday in the Troodos in the 1980's. I didn't visit the mine or hospital, of course, but was aware of it. My, what an eyesore the mine was then.

It's hard to imagine 5,000 people working there - a significant proportion of the Cyprus workforce.

By the way, Dominic, the link in the text below the last image doesn't work (for me, anyway). Is it meant to be one of these:

http://www.amiandos.eu/en/

http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/wdd/Wdd.nsf/A ... penElement

Both are fascinating.

Thanks, I have corrected the link. It was the first of the one's you showed, and I agree, both are fascinating. The place itself is well worth a visit.

[Dominic]

From a couple of words I picked out from the plaque, I'm wondering if the hospital was a school of dentistry? I guess a local would have more accurate information.

There was a full blown operating theatre, and no sign of any dentist chairs, which would have been realllllly creepy. Perhaps there was a dental department?