Cyprus
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti local short form: Kypros/Kibris note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern part of the island, refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) |
| Gevernment type | republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which is recognized only by Turkey |
| Capital |
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
| Flag description | white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a white field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red crescent and red five-pointd star |
| Currency | Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish New lira (YTL) |
| Internet country code | .cy |
| Ports and terminals | Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos |
| Agriculture products | citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese |
| Industries | tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum production, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone, and clay products |
| Geography |
| Location | Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey |
| Coordinates | 35 00 N, 33 00 E |
| Continent | Middle East |
| Area |
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km |
| Boundaries |
total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA |
| Coastline | 648 km |
| Climate | temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
| Terrain | central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast |
| Natural resources | copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment |
| Natural hazards | moderate earthquake activity; droughts |
| People |
| Population | 784,301 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic groups | Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) |
| Religions | Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4% |
| Languages | Greek, Turkish, English |
