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Featured Country

Cyprus

Photo by: Hilda Osinga
Cyprus is a deeply enjoyable holiday island that boasts myriad charms year round. Within one compact and sweepingly attractive island are a variety of rich landscapes and eclectic travel experiences. The rich story of the island can be traced back over 10,000 years. Like many Mediterranean islands, ... more >>

Cyprus Main | Currency | General | Health | Overview

Cyprus Overview

Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean. The landscape varies between rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rocky hills and forest-covered mountains. The Troodos Mountains in the centre of the island rise to almost 1,952m (6,400ft) and provide skiing during the winter. Between these and the range of hills which run eastward along the north coast and the ‘panhandle’ is the fertile Messaoria Plain. The Morphou Basin runs around the coast of Morphou Bay in the west.

Area
9,251 sq km (3,572 sq miles)

Government
Republic since 1960. Head of State and Government: President Tassos Papadopoulos since 2003. Recent history: The majority of the international community recognises the Greek-Cypriot administration in Nicosia as the legitimate government of the Republic of Cyprus. Until 2003, this had been led for a decade by Glafkos Clerides, who was then deposed by Tassos Papadopoulos, candidate of the centre-right Komma Dimokratiko (Democratic Party). The present government is a coalition of DIKO, AKEL (the Communist Party which has long been the single largest force) and the smaller KISOS party. The northern occupied part of the island is run by Mehmet Ali Talet, who was elected leader of the Turkish Cypriot community in 2005. President Papadopoulos oversaw the Republic of Cyprus’ entry into the European Union in 2004 despite the absence of a political settlement between the two parts of the island. (This had previously been a precondition of Cypriot entry). The principal issue for the Greek-Cypriot government remains the same; how to reunify the island.

Population
748,301 (2006 estimate).

Population Density
80.9 per sq km.

Language
The majority (approximately 80%) speaks Greek and approximately 11% speak Turkish. The Greek Cypriot dialect is different from mainland Greek. Turkish is spoken by Turkish Cypriots. English, German and French are also spoken in tourist centres.

Religion
Greek Orthodox.

Time
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).

Capital
Nicosia (Lefkosia). Population: 208,900 (2001, excluding Turkish-occupied portion).

Electricity
240 volts AC, 50Hz. Square 13-amp three-pin plugs (UK-type) are used.