| AREA |
9251
sq km (3572 sq miles, including Turkish-occupied
territory). |
| POPULATION |
735,900 (1995, including
population of Turkish-occupied region). |
| POPULATION DENSITY |
79.5 per sq km. |
| CAPITAL |
Nicosia (Lefkosia). |
| CAPITAL
POPULATION |
191,000 (1995, excluding
Turkish-occupied portion). |
| GEOGRAPHY |
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 1952m
(6400ft) and provide good skiing during
the winter. Between these and the range
of hills which runs 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. |
| GOVERNMENT |
Republic since 1960.
Head of State and Government: President
Glafkos Klerides since 1993. |
| LANGUAGE |
The majority (approximately
80%) speak Greek and approximately 20% 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, with
Muslim minority. |
| STANDARD TIME |
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from
last Sunday in March to Saturday before
last Sunday in October). |
| ELECTRICITY |
240 volts AC, 50Hz.
13-amp square 3-pin plugs (UK-type) are
used |
| COMMUNICATIONS |
|
