In Larnaca, Cyprus, a coastal town of 38,000 to 40,000 inhabitants, there is a very interesting lake which serves as the main supplier of salt to Cyprus. The lake covers approximately 1.3 km2 and offers a beautiful panorama. At night, you can see in its calm waters a reflection of strong hills and rich vegetation.
The salt lake forms after rain during the winter months. During the summer, especially in July and August, the lake dries up and leaves its reserve of salt. The local authorities collect the salt in small piles, which they transport on donkeys to transport them to special depots. First, they wrap pieces of old cloth around the paws and animals so that the salt does not harm them. The salt transport job takes about a month and a half. Finally, the salt reaches the cardboard packaging which is sold in the markets.
West of Salt Lake, against the backdrop of date palms, is a famous Muslim shrine called Tekke of Umm Haram. Tekke holds a grave that is believed to contain the remains of Mohammed's aunt. But investigators who traced the woman's ancestry say she was not a relative, but a close friend of Mohammed and his secretary's aunt. This woman is said to have helped the Prophet of Islam on his journey from Mecca to Medina.
Legend has it that Umm Haram accompanied her husband during the Arab invasion of Cyprus in 647. She probably fell from the ground and was killed and buried there. Later, a monument was erected in his honor, consisting of two vertical stones about five meters high, with a third stone on top. Visitors to the shrine learn that the top stone was miraculously transported from Mecca and placed there at night.
This shrine became important during the Turkish occupation of Cyprus. A mosque was built on the site, which is now a pilgrimage for many devout Muslims. Among Muslim shrines, the mosque occupies third place, after the Kaaba in Mecca and the sanctuary of Mohammed in the Medina.
If you decide to visit Cyprus by plane, you can land at Larnaca Airport. Leaving the airport, approximately 500 meters, you will find this extraordinary salt lake and the nearby sanctuary with its date palms and other rich vegetation. Whether in winter, when the calm waters of the lake are pleasant, or in summer, when the dry lake bed shows a lot of salt, this place will prove to be relaxing.
