Cyprus: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Cyprus |
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Background:
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Independence from the UK was approved in 1960, with constitutional guarantees by the Greek Cypriot majority to the Turkish Cypriot minority. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled almost 40% of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. UN-led direct talks between the two sides to reach a comprehensive settlement to the division of the island began in January 2002 and will reach a culmination when a referendum of all Cypriots is held on 21 April 2004, just 10 days before the Greek part of Cyprus is scheduled to join the EU. |
| Geography | Cyprus |
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Location:
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Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey |
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Geographic coordinates:
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35 00 N, 33 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area)
water: 10 sq km land: 9,240 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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648 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
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Climate:
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temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
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Terrain:
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central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Olympus 1,951 m |
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Natural resources:
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copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment |
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Land use:
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arable land: 14.4%
permanent crops: 4.5% other: 81.1% (2001 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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382 sq km (2001 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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moderate earthquake activity; droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants |
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Geography - note:
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the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) |