Cyprus - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Cyprus is an island in the eastern Mediterranean.

Since 1974, when Turkey occupied the northern part of Cyprus, Cyprus has effectively been divided between an ethnically Turkish north and an ethnically Greek south.

The two sections are divided by a UN buffer zone.

In 1983, the northern part of Cyprus declared itself to be a separate political entity known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The only country that recognizes the TNRC is Turkey.

Cyprus became a member of the European Union in 2004.

Cyprus has an area of 3,572 square miles (9,251 square kilometers). It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sardinia and Sicily.

The terrain on Cyprus is mountainous. There are two main mountain ranges, the Kyrenia Mountains and the Troodos Mountains.

The capital of Cyprus is Nicosia.

Cyprus has a population of 871,000.

81% of the people of Cyprus are Greek, and 11% are Turkish.

78% of Cypriots are Christian Orthodox and 18% are Muslim.

Greek and Turkish are both official languages.

In the south, the economy is primarily based on tourism, specialist agriculture, shipping and offshore banking.

The northern economy relies on tourism, agriculture and aid from Turkey.

Cyprus has a presidential system of government.

The euro is the official currency of Cyprus. The Turkish lira is used in the TRNC.