Cyprus (officially the Republic of Cyprus) is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus is in Asia, along with being apart of the Middle East and the Levant. The north part of the island is governed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Republic of Cyprus Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kıbrıs Cumhuriyeti | |
|---|---|
| Anthem: "Hymn to Liberty" | |
![Location of Cyprus (green) in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]](/wiki/File:EU-Cyprus.svg) Location of Cyprus (green) in the European Union (light green) — [Legend] | |
| Capital and largest city | Nicosia (Λευκωσία, Lefkoşa) |
| Official languages | |
| Recognised regional languages |
|
| Common languages | English |
| Vernacular languages |
|
| Ethnic groups (2001) | 77% Greeks 18% Turks 5% Roma people[1] |
| Demonym(s) | Cypriot |
| Government | Presidential republic |
| Nikos Christodoulides | |
| Independence from the United Kingdom | |
| 19 February 1959 | |
• Proclaimed | 16 August 1960 |
| Area | |
• Total | 9,251 km2 (3,572 sq mi) (167th) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
• 2010 estimate | 803,147[2] (Does not include North) 1,088,503 (whole island) |
• Density | 117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) (115th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $23.190 billion[3] |
• Per capita | $28,256[3] |
| GDP (nominal) | 2010 estimate |
• Total | $23.174 billion[3] |
• Per capita | $28,237[3] |
| Gini (2005) | 29 low · 19th |
| HDI (2011) |  0.840very high · 31st |
| Currency | Euro2 (EUR) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | 357 |
| ISO 3166 code | CY |
| Internet TLD | .cy3 |
| |
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It is also closer to Africa than to Europe. The capital is Nicosia. The country of Cyprus does not include the whole island. There are two small British territories on the island named Akrotiri and Dhekelia. However, most countries do not accept Northern Cyprus as a legitimate country. The official languages are Greek and Turkish.
In 2019, 4 million tourists visited the country. It is estimated that Cyprus earned 2.7 billion euros in that year.[4] Tourism is very important to the country, as tourism made up 23% of its economy in 2020.[5]
History
changeCyprus has had people for some 13,000 year. During the Bronze Age its copper mines became important. Cyprus was conquered in turn by various mainland empires, and became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1570. Greece had already been conquered. The British Empire took control of Cyprus from 1878 until 1960.
Cyprus became independent from the British Empire in 1960 following the London and Zürich Agreements of 19 February 1959. Makarios III became its first president. In 1960-1974 there was tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots and in 1974, Turkey sent troops to occupy northern Cyprus. Greek Cypriots moved south to get away from them, and Turkish Cypriots moved north to get away from the Greeks. Negotiations for a unified island have been held several times without success.
In 2004, Cyprus joined the European Union. On 1 January 2008 Cyprus adopted the Euro, the single European currency.[6] Although the official currency of Northern Cyprus is the Turkish Lira, many shops accept Euros and British pounds.[7][8]
Geography
changeCyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia.[9]
There are two mountain ranges, the Troodos Mountains and the smaller Kyrenia Range. The Pedieos River is the longest on the island. The highest point on Cyprus is Mount Olympus at 1,952 metres (6,404 feet).
The Republic of Cyprus is only on the southern two-thirds of the island (59.74%). The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the northern third (34.85%) and rest are Akrotiri and Dhekelia owned by the British.
Headlands of Cyprus include
- Cape Greco in the southeast (picture),
- Cape Apostolos Andreas in the northeast
- Cape Gata in the south
- Cape Kormakitis in the north
- Cape Zevgari in the south
Politics
changeThe Republic of Cyprus is a constitutional presidential republic. Each president is elected for a five-year term. The president has a lot of power. Cyprus is the only member of the European Union that is governed by a presidential system of government. It is one of few countries (along with San Marino) to have had a democratically elected communist government, in office from 2008 until 2013. Since 2013 governing party has been the Democratic Rally.
The European Union issued a warning in February 2019 that Cyprus, an EU member, was selling EU passports to Russian oligarchs. This would allow organised crime syndicates to get into the EU.[10] In 2020 leaked documents revealed a range of former and current officials from Afghanistan, China, Dubai, Lebanon, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Vietnam who bought a Cypriot citizenship before a change of the law in July 2019.[11][12] Cyprus and Turkey have been engaged in a dispute over the extent of their exclusive economic zones. It was apparently caused by the potential for oil and gas exploration in the area.[13]
Districts
changeThe Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts:[14] Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos. These are not the same as those of Northern Cyprus.
Cities
changeRelated pages
changeReferences
change- ↑ "Cyprus". The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "Total population as of 1 January". Eurostat. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Cyprus". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ↑ "Tourism". www.cyprusprofile.com. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "Cyprus Contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (% of GDP), 1995-2020 - knoema.com". Knoema. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "Cyprus and the euro". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "North Cyprus Currency | North Cyprus Property Consultants". North Cyprus Property. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "Currency and Money Advice for North Cyprus Villa Holiday". www.amyvillas.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "Biggest Islands In The Mediterranean Sea By Area". WorldAtlas. 4 August 2017. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
- ↑ "Cyprus 'golden passports' bring Russians into the EU". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ↑ "Exclusive: Cyprus sold passports to 'politically exposed persons'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ↑ Rakopoulos, Theodoros; Fischer, Leandros (10 November 2020). "In Cyprus, the Golden Passports Scheme Shows Us How Capitalism and Corruption Go Hand in Hand". Jacobin. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ↑ "Cyprus: EU 'appeasement' of Turkey in exploration row will go nowhere". Reuters. 17 August 2020.
- ↑ "EUROPA – The EU at a glance – Maps – Cyprus". Europa (web portal). Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
Other websites
change
- Cyprus Videos Archived 2009-06-16 at the Wayback Machine
- Cyprus Pictures Archived 2018-08-01 at the Wayback Machine
- Cyprus Map Archived 2004-12-21 at the Wayback Machine
- CyprusLinks.com
- Cyprus Tourist Guide