Cyprus’s fertile valleys and its Mediterranean climate, with its hot, dry summers and relatively mild, wet winters, make this island suitable for growing many crops, including grapes (for wine), citrus fruits, pomegranates, bananas, olives, potatoes, carob (remember that cocoa substitute sometimes used in tahini pies?), grains (such as wheat and barley), and various vegetables.
It’s also well suited for raising sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens, which are variously used for meat or for dairy products. Copper was once an important natural resource as well, but due to heavy mining over thousands of years, its supply has dwindled. Still, some say that the ancient word for copper is what gave Cyprus its name. Can you hear the similarity in the words?
Natural challenges, some more common than others, include droughts, shortages of fresh water, wildfires, dust storms, deforestation, erosion, and the threat of earthquakes. However, never fear, because Cypriots have learned to adapt…
Let’s talk water (νερό)! Cyprus’s rivers are fed by snowmelt in spring but tend to dry up in the heat of summer, making irrigation important for channeling water toward crops in many areas. A number of dams scattered across Cyprus collect river and runoff water during the winter rainy season to help irrigate farms and provide drinking water throughout the year. Cypriots are also developing desalination plants, which remove salt from seawater to make it suitable for drinking. What a smart way for an island to adapt!
