Articles

Cyprus' contemporary history is simply fascinating. First, there is the extremely wide-ranging impact of Great Britain on its former colony which only became independent in the early 60's. Then, there's the tension among the Greek majority and Turkish minority that overspilled in December of 1963 in Cyprus' capital city, Nicosia. Even though there were United Nations troops deployed a month later, fighting continued to break out from time to time, which drove Turks into isolated pockets all over the island.

A decade later in 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognised only by Turkey.

The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen.

However EU laws will not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia, in Cyprus street maps, is the capital and continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

Atlas and geography maps of Cyprus place the island south of Turkey in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean sea. According to these maps and the Cyprus weather forecast, the temperature there consists of hot, dry summers and cool, mild winters.

The area is 9,250 sq km as shown in atlas and geography maps of Cyprus. It's the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The natural resources found there are- copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment. Moderate earthquake activity and occasional droughts are natural hazards in Cyprus. Its terrain is central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast.