Virtually every household (including mine) has its own solar panel for heating its water. Even streetlights are powered by solar panels on top!
Speaking of sunshine, Cyprus was once a shadier place due to vast expanses of forests. However, like copper, these forests were exploited over thousands of years, sometimes by outside influences, for use for shipbuilding and fuel, leading to deforestation. Deforestation combined with dry conditions can put hillsides at risk for erosion. However, some farmers have carved out hillsides into step-shaped formations lined with stone walls that reduce erosion and make farming easier. This process is called terracing.
Last but not least, there is the invisible threat of earthquakes! In fact, there have been at least two moderate earthquakes since I arrived in September, including one just before Halloween. The epicenter, or origin point, was under the Mediterranean Sea not far from Limassol’s coast. Apparently some felt strong shaking in Limassol, but luckily I didn’t feel a thing. However, the second earthquake woke me up with a jolt in the middle of the night!
Recognizing the danger earthquakes pose, Cypriots make sure that schoolchildren know what to do in the event of an earthquake. Just a few days before the first moderate quake since my arrival, we had an earthquake preparedness drill in school. Do you know what to do if there is an earthquake? Fortunately, my students do!
First, we squatted down under our desks with our hands held up to protect our necks and heads, and then we evacuated the school building and filed into a central courtyard away from possible falling debris. Though I hope not to experience another noticeable earthquake, at least now I’ll know how to respond if I do!
