The Mesaoria lowlands lie in central part of the island between the two ranges.

The island's range of topography and soils support diverse plant communities, including mountain conifer and broadleaf forests, open woodlands, grasslands, high shrublands (maquis), and low shrublands (garrigue or phrygana).

The Cyprus mouflon (Ovis gmelimi ophion), a subspecies of wild sheep, is endemic to the island.

The cave shelter at Aetokremnos includes remains of dwarf hippos and elephants butchered by humans approximately 11,500 to 12,000 years ago.

[1] Protected areas in the Republic of Cyprus include seven nature reserves, eleven national forest parks, 13 permanent game reserves, and one turtle nesting beach (Lara-Toxeftra, 1.01 km²).