nondescript, as very little remains of the original village. Outside of the town centre, most houses are little more than small rectangular blocks; this is compensated for by their attractive gardens, especially when the trees are in bloom. Younger generations who earn higher salaries have been spending larger amounts of money on the construction of more modern and attractive houses in the town. At the heart of Paralimni lies a shopping centre and a small entertainment scene, including modern cafes and bars. Because Paralimni has rapidly grown in size, Cyprus' biggest food retailers such as Carrefour have built or rented branches there. There are also many local supermarkets. The countryside surrounding Paralimni has red soil rich in zinc, which is famous for producing highly nutritious and flavourful potatoes. It is also known for its picturesque windmills, which are used to draw water from underground aquifers to irrigate the surrounding land. Many of these windmills are now derelict, having been replaced by electric or diesel-powered pumps. Before the rise of tourism, the rich agricultural land surrounding Paralimni was the source of its wealth, and is still of great importance today. Sports Enosis Neon Paralimni FC, which plays in the Cypriot First Division, is the football team of the town. There is also a Conference team in Paralimni called Anorthosis Paralimniou. Protaras Protaras (; ) is a predominantly tourist resort which comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Paralimni Municipality. Climate Ecology Paralimni's lake is home to the harmless Cyprus grass snake, which was declared extinct in the 1960s until being rediscovered in 1994. As a result, the lake was designated a Site of Community Interest (SCI). Notable residents Michalis Konstantinou, footballer, born in Paralimni. Pelagia Kyriakou, renowned female singer of traditional Cypriot music, born in Paralimni. Tasos Markou, EOKA fighter and officer of the Cypriot National Guard and the Hellenic Army - MIA during Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Solomos Solomou, raised in Paralimni, killed in 1996 by a Turkish officer in the UN Buffer Zone Gallery See also Enosis Neon Paralimni FC Famagusta District Ayia Napa References https://web.archive.org/web/20100131234233/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/cyprus-has-failed-protect-grass-snake/20100130 External links Paralimni Official Municipality Virtual Tour of Protaras Municipalities in Famagusta District