Cyprus - Geography

Cyprus is an oval-shaped island with ‘pan-handle’ north-east peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean. Its closest mainland neighbours are Turkey (to the north) and Syria and Lebanon (to the east).

Time:GMT plus 2hr winter, GMT plus 3hr summer

Area:9,251 sq km

Main towns:Nicosia (Lefkosia, capital, pop. 202,500 in 2006, with a further 42,400 in the occupied north), Limassol (156,300), Larnaca (49,500), Paphos (37,100). In the occupied north, other main towns are Famagusta (44,000), Lefka, Morphou and Kyrenia.

Topography:The Troodos Mountains, in the central and western part of the island, rise to 1,951m at Mt Olympus. The Troodos, of infertile igneous rock, are characterised by steep slopes, narrow valleys and precipices. The Kyrenia Mountains (also known as the Pentadaktylos range), along the north coast, rise to 1,024m and are mainly limestone. Passes and valleys allow access to the north coast. The fertile Messaoria Plain lies between them. About half of its 186,000 hectares is irrigated. Most water sources are in the south – all major rivers originate in the Troodos and flow east, south or west. Many rivers dry up in the summer. There are sandy beaches on the south of the island and some rugged rocky coastline in the north.

Climate:Mediterranean type. Hot dry summers (June to September) and mild wet winters (November to March).

Environment:The most significant environmental issues are limited water resources – due to lack of rain in the summer and pollution of the island’s largest aquifer by sea water; water pollution by sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; and loss of wildlife habitats due to urbanisation.

Vegetation:Mediterranean scrub, succulents and pine woods, adapted to the dry summers, with 1,800 species and subspecies of flowering plants. The mountains are forested and less than 20% of the land is arable and permanently cropped, about 20% of which is irrigated. The occupied north is generally more thickly vegetated and fertile.

Wildlife:The only large wild animal is the agrino, a species of wild sheep, which is now protected. Snakes, once so abundant as to give the island its old name Ophiussa (‘abode of snakes’), are now comparatively rare.

Transport:There is a good road network in the Republic, with motorways between Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos and the Famagusta area. Cyprus has no railway.

Major ports are at Larnaca and Limassol.

Nicosia airport was closed in 1974. There are international airports 5km south of Larnaca, and 15km east of Paphos.