Om Polemidia-demningen

Polemidia dam lies on the outskirts of Limassol on the Garyllis River, making it one of the most centrally located reservoirs in Cyprus's urban landscape. Completed in 1965 with a capacity of 3.4 MCM and standing 35 metres tall, it is among the oldest modern dams on the island — constructed in the early years after Cyprus's independence when the nascent republic was beginning to build national water infrastructure. In its original function, Polemidia supplied drinking water directly to Limassol, at that time a much smaller city than it is today. As Limassol's population grew through the 1970s and 1980s, particularly following the economic disruptions of the 1974 war, the city's demand quickly outpaced what Polemidia could provide, and the dam's role gradually shifted toward irrigation support while larger reservoirs — Kouris and Germasoyeia — took over municipal supply. The Garyllis River catchment is modest in extent, draining the lower southern Troodos slopes within a relatively compact area, which limits Polemidia's ability to capture significant runoff volumes during winter storms. Today, the surrounding area has become increasingly urbanised as Limassol expands outward, and the reservoir now serves as a green corridor within the metropolitan fringe — a rare open water surface and informal nature area amid the expanding built environment. The dam attracts local walkers and cyclists, and environmental groups have occasionally highlighted its value as urban green infrastructure. Polemidia's longevity as a functioning reservoir — over six decades — reflects the durability of mid-twentieth century Cypriot civil engineering and the ongoing relevance of smaller reservoirs even as the island has built far larger storage capacity.