Cyprus is in Asia contrary to all the other islands of the Mediterranean. Nevertheless, from a political and cultural point of view, the island is attached also more to the Europe, of which it is member of the principal institutions besides (European Union, the Council of Europe, etc).

Situation : the Middle East, island in the Mediterranean, south of the Turkey

geographical Coordinates : 35 00 NR, 33 00 E

Chart : The Middle East

Surface : total: 9  250  km ² (of which 3  355  km ² are in Turkish the Chypriote area)

water : 10  km ²

grounds : 9  250,0  km ² (total) 9  240,0  km ² (grounds only)

Surface - comparative : approximately 0.6 times size of the Connecticut, a little more of the third of the surface of the Brittany

Land borders : 0  km

Littoral: 648  km

maritime Claims : continental shelf: 200-m of depth or until the depth of exploitation

territorial sea : 12  milles  nautical

Climate : Moderated and Mediterranean with very hot and dry summers and fresh and wet winters. Cyprus is the hottest island of the Mediterranean and Nicosie is the hottest city in Europe with an average annual temperature of 19,5  °C. The winters are moderate (average temperature in January 10   °C - 13  °C) and the summers are very hot (average temperature in July - August 16   °C - 29  °C).

Ground : The topographic main features of Cyprus are two assembly lines which extend from the east in the west - the chain of Pentadaktylos in north (1  024  m) and solid mass of Troodos in south-west (1  951  m) - separated by the central plain. Cyprus does not have perennial rivers or lakes.

extreme Altitudes :

not low : Mediterranean 0  m

not highest : Olympus 1 951  m

Natural resources : Copper, Pyrite, Asbestos, Gypsum, Wood, salt, Marble, argillaceous ground

Use of the grounds : grounds cultivated with annual renewal (e.g. fields of cereals): 10  % permanent crops; without renewal (e.g. orchards, vines…) : 5  % others: 85  % (is. 1998) Irrigated grounds: 400  km ² (is. 1998)

natural Risks : moderate seismic activity; dryness

Environment - current problems : miss water (not natural reserves, rains irregular) but of the plants of desalination are used since 2000 (approximately); water pollution by waste water and the industrial waste; coastal degradation; destruction of the habitats of the wild life by the urbanization

Environment - international agreements : adhesion with: Air pollution, Biodiversity, Evolution of the Climate, Evolution of the Climate - Protocol of Kyoto, Turning into a desert, Species in the process of Disappearance, Mofication of the Environment, Dangerous waste, Law of the Sea, Discharge of Products in the Sea, Prohibition of the Nuclear tests, Protection of the Layer of Ozone, Pollution by the Ships signed, but not ratified: Air pollution - Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note : the 3rd larger island of the Mediterranean (after the Sicily and the Sardinia)

See too