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Location, size and population

Cyprus is the third biggest and the most eastern island in the Mediterranean.

Area total: 9.251 sq. km (including Turkish section). Population: 760.000 (including Turkish section). Coastline: 700 km

Various landscapes of the island offer to the visitor rugged coasts with crystal clear water, sandy beaches, rocky hills and wooded mountains. Two mountains characterize the face of the island: The great Troodos mountains in the middle rise up to 1.950 m and offers excellent skiing grounds in winter time. The alpine like mountains of Kyrínia are located at the north coast with heights up to 1.024 m. The plain of Mesaória is located between these mountains.

Cyprus is a very fruitful island with vineyards, plantations of orange and bananas, although there are no rivers and only a few brooks water-leading all over the year. Many storage lakes have been built in the last 40 years for the winter precipitation.

Capital: Nicosia (Lefkosia), further important cities: Limassol as port and place of many offshore companies, Larnaka as port and airport city and Paphos (Pafos) as rising holiday resort since end of the 80's.

Language: Greek in the Greek Cypriot community. English is widely spoken and understood and regularly used in commerce and government. German and French are often understood and spoken mostly in holiday resorts.

Climate and travelling time

Cyprus is a destination for each season with 340 days of sunshine in the year because of its favourable geographical location.

Occasional showers of rain are noticed in the time from December to February. Average daytime temperatures are pleasant 15° C, at night not less than 8° C. Snowfall is possible during this time in the Troodos mountains and there exists a chance for skiing.

From May until September temperatures are between 26 - 29° C. In August sometimes 35° C can be reached. The water temperatures slowly rise from 18-22° in spring time up to approx. 26° possible still in October-November.

Cyprus belongs to the most healthful climatical regions in the world.

Flora and Fauna

The extraordinary and varied vegetation extends from the fruitful coast plains over the desert hill country, grain-fields, vine yards and fruit plantations up to pine woods in the Troodos mountains. The different soils, various altitudes with their climatic characteristics and the change of dry mountains and damp valleys contributed to this diversity of species. Cyprus is one of the most densely wooded islands in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile one fifth of its area is tree-covered again. For thousands of years the forests were felled for building ships and houses, for use as charcoal and for the domestic stove.

Altogether there are approx. 1.800 wild living plants domestic on Cyprus, among them 40 types of orchids. The Troodos-pine, the Cyprus-cedar, the Cyprus-tulip and the Akamas-stone herb belong to the 120 endemic plants. In springtime the island is changing into a carpet of flowers and the visitors are pleased with bright colours everywhere and with the natural beauty of the island. On Cyprus you will find olive and carob trees, eucalyptus, lemon and orange trees, bananas (near Paphos), plane trees, oak trees and Aleppo pines. Cedar trees can be found in the western mountain country.

Cherries, peaches, pears, apples, walnuts, almonds and quinces are growing at the northern slopes of the Troodos mountains. Growing wine gives the south side of the mountains its characteristic appearance. The Akamas peninsula is a still untouched natural paradise and a preferred area for hikers. There are special natural paths showing the extraordinary flora. At the west coast there are two types of threatened sea turtles laying down their eggs in the bay of Lara. The Lara project is well known also outside of Cyprus and is supported by the World Wildlife Fund of Nature (WWF).

The island is a paradise for ornithologists. They find about 375 types of birds, among them many migratory birds. To the most impressive migratory birds belong flamingos and swans. They are to be seen in winter time on the two salt lakes of Larnaka and Akrotiri. Emperer eagles are circling over the Troodos mountains and over the peninsula of Akamas goose vultures are to be seen. The Cypriot wild sheep is the most well known endemic animal species. They are living in the forests of Paphos. Lizards in different sizes and shapes are living there. If the hiker comes too close to them while they are taking their sun bath, they withdraw very quickly.

Culinary

Many influences from Turkey, Orient, Italy and Britain combined with the local food produced on the island make up the traditional cuisine, which provides various and delicious spiciness.

• From the grill: minced meat (scheftalia), grill spit (suflaki), pork chop (brisola), lamb chop (paidaklia), goat cheese (halloumi).
• From the sealed oven: lamb or goat (kleftiko)
• Composite dishes of casseroles: pork in red wine (afelia), stuffed noodles (ravioles), pork, beef or rabbit with onions (stifado), aubergines souffle (moussaka).
• Starters: village salad (salata noriatiki), dip of chick peas (humus), dip of aubergines (melindsanosalata), dip of sesame (tachini), dip of cucumber and yoghurt (talaturi), dip of fish (taramosalata).
• Specialities: Octopus in red wine (octapdi krasato), snails in tomato sauce (karaoli yahni), brawn (zalatina).
• Fish: Tiny sardine type fish (marida), red mullet (barbouni), rings of squid (kalamari).
• Dessert: Fresh fruit (fruta), pastry filled with cheese and honey (bourekia), filled puff-paste (baklawa), semolina cake (skamali), pudding (galatobureko).

And don't miss the good Cyprus wine as the dry white wines Aphrodite and Palamino, the dry red wines Othello and Ermis, the dry rose wines Rosella and Amorosa (of course there are many more recommendable sorts of wines). A very special one is the sweet dessert wine Commandaria, a speciality of the island. If you like to drink beer you will be pleased with "Keo" and "Carlsberg". They are brewed in Cyprus.

Bathing and sports

Bathing is permitted everywhere. Red buoys are marking the areas which are reserved for swimmers only. Water vehicles are not allowed to pass there. Sun beds and umbrellas can be rent at many public beaches.

The possibilities of sports are various and something is included for everybody:

Golf, tennis, hiking, biking tours, skiing in the Troodos mountains (Jan.-Feb.), fishing, paragliding, wind surfing, all kinds of water sport, jet-ski, water-ski, surfing, pedal boat, diving schools. Scuba diving is permitted everywhere. There are numerous diving sport centers and equipment rental companies. Archaeological discoveries and nature sponges are not allowed bringing upwards. The diving teachers speak English as well as German. For leisure divers the coasts of Cyprus offers something unusual: A 172 meters long ferry boat, in the depth in front of Larnaca. At the peninsula of Akrotiri near Limassol the diver can watch the "Farses II". It is a 50 meters long steel ship. For experienced divers the caves along the antique Roman harbour of Paphos are interesting. There are to be seen rests of old amphoraes.

Sailing will be a great attraction in the area of Paphos / Coral Bay very soon. The Coral Bay Marina project - the building of a Yacht Port - is approved. It is expected that it will be ready for use in the near future.

More information form A to Z

Currency: The Cypriot pound = 100 cents. All common credit cards are widely used and accepted.

Electricity: 240 Volt, 50 Hz, sockets similar to England, adapters available in every supermarket.

Emergency: Telephone number for police, fire-brigade and ambulance: 199. All police officers do speak English. Crime in Cyprus is at a very low level.

Entry: A still 3-month valid passport is sufficient for a stay of 3 months. For a longer stay a visa is needed. The entry into the Greek Cypriot area is only permitted by the airports of Larnaka and Paphos or with ferry boats to the ports of Larnaka and Limassol. Both airports are served by several major international airlines from European gateway cities all over the year. Cyprus Airways is the national carrier of South Cyprus which offers flights from and to London, Frankfurt, Zurich, Vienna and many other cities of the world. In travel agencies and in the Internet you can inquire about favourable flights of different airlines.

Flight times: from London: 4 ½ hours, from Frankfurt: 3 ½ hours, from Vienna: 3 hours, from Zurich: 3 hours.

Health service: There is no need for a special inoculation. The medical service is excellent and corresponds to European standards. For a longer stay in Cyprus a foreign health insurance in your country is recommendable.

Internet / E-mail: There are several Internet cafés in Paphos, Larnaka, Limassol, Nicosia, Ayia Napa.

Mobile phone: GSM 900. Network carrier: CYTAGSM. Mobile phones can be used on Cyprus without problems. There are contracts between Cyprus and most of the national network carriers in the world (for example: UK, D, CH, A and many others). Before travelling please ask the provider at home if "International Roaming" can be used with the mobile phone. More information are available at each provider.

Religions: Greek Cypriots are Greek Orthodox, Turkish Cypriots are Moslem.

Telephones: 98 % of the world's telephones are obtainable by automatical dialling from Cyprus. Dialling codes: UK - Cyprus: 00357, Cyprus - UK: 0044. Pay-phones are available, telephone cards available at each kiosk.

Time: Central European time (MEZ): + 1 hour during the whole year.

Traffic rules: Driving is on the left. Max. speed on motorways: 100 km/h, on ordinary roads: 80 km/h, in cities: 50 km/h. Buckling obligation on the front seats. Blood alcohol limit: 0,00.

Type of government: republic. Since 1960 an independent and sovereign state. Cyprus is a member of the United Nations (UN), the British Commonwealth, the Council of Europe and an extraordinary member of the European Union (EU). Decisive negotiations of accession between the Greek part of Cyprus and the European Union were led since 1998/99. Entry of the Greek part of Cyprus to the EU took place on 1st May 2004.