Kelefos Bridge Gets A Spring Clean!
Of all the Venetian Bridges in Cyprus, Kelefos is probably the most famous. Nestled in the heart of Paphos Forest, it formed an integral part of the Camel Trail route from the mountains to coastal areas. We were up there a few days ago and noticed it was looking remarkably clean and well-groomed. Come see for yourself...
Dingly Dell
Kelefos Bridge lies at the top end of the Diarizos Valley, upstream of Arminou Reservoir. The nearest village is Agios Nikolaos. If you are looking it on Google Maps, be aware that it may be called Tzelefos.
Distant Arminou Reservoir
Kelefos Bridge spans Diarizos River which flows into the Arminou Reservoir. From there the water is pumped all the way to Kouris Reservoir, which is no mean feat, given that it is 20km away. I remember reading that the people who lived in Diarizos Valley were complaining about the lack of water since the pipeline was installed, and I can see their point.
Paphos Forest
And this is the view upstream. If you follow the river you will come to a number of other Venetian Bridges. They were part of the Camel Trail which transported minerals and other produce from the mines in the mountains down to the coast.
View From The Top
Last time we visited we wouldn't have been able to take this shot, as there were two big trees blocking the view. You can see their stumps in the picture.
Rear View
You will notice that the bridge is hump-backed. There is a specific reason for this. The minerals were transported on camels. During the winter they would use the bridges to cross the river. In summer time when the river ran dry, they would walk along the riverbed underneath. The hump in the bridge made this possible.
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