The windmills made their first appearance in Paralimni in the beginning of the 20th century and were used by farmers to pump water up for the irrigation of their fields. They soon multiplied in number and as a result, Protaras, its most productive area, is often referred to as the land of windmills. The antiquated windmills were later on replaced by mechanical pumps. Today, the large number of old windmills testifies to the ingenuity and productivity of a bygone era while lending a quaint, nostalgic beauty to the landscape of the area.