History of Cyprus

Cyprus Geography

Cyprus, an extreme south-eastern European country, is the third largest island situated in the north eastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. The shape of the island is said to resemble a deerskin.
Its neighboring lands at the nearest coastal points are Turkey 40 miles (64 km) to the north, Syria 60 miles (97 km) east, Lebanon 108 miles (174 km) south-east and Egypt 230 miles (370 km) south. The island lies between the latitudes 34° 33' and 35° 41 north and longitudes 32° 15' and 34° 35' east, with total area of 9,251 sq kilometers (3,572 sq miles) and a coastline of 486 miles (782 km).

Administrative division

Cyprus has been divided into two parts, North and South Cyprus, since 1974. Greek Cypriots occupy the south part while the Turkish Cypriots occupy remaining one third of northern part. A boundary known as the ‘Green Line’ which runs through Nicosia , the capital of both South and North Cyprus, separates the two states.

There are six districts that make the administration units in Cyprus (Nicosia, Famagusta, Pafos, Limassol, Larnaka, and Kyrenia). Many of the villages in Nicosia, Famagusta and Larnaka districts are included in the occupied part of Cyprus, Kyrenia district is occupied in total area.

The landscape of Cyprus is characterized by mountains, plains and beaches. The two highest mountain ranges of Cyprus are Troodos, that covers most of the southern and western portions of the island, and Besparmak which runs along most of the north coastline. The mountains are separated by the Central Mesaoria Plain that extends the length of the island from east to west and is generally marked as a breadbasket of Cyprus as of the production of cereal crops such as wheat, barley and oats.

The climate in Cyprus is typically Mediterranean, with significant differences in the seasons. Summers are warm and dry, while the winters rainy and mild.

The nature/flora of Cyprus is varied enough to please everyone, from the visitor who just wants to see valleys full of anemones to the serious botanist. Undoubtedly, spring is the time for anyone who wants to see the most prolific color and greatest variety of flower.

Cyprus boasts many clean and intact sandy beaches in the world which 25% of the Green Turtles of the Mediterranean visit to lay their eggs during the months of July and August.