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Cyprus: Cyprus Geography Profile 2012

2012/03/06

Cyprus Geography Profile 2012

Cyprus, an island at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea, near Turkey. It is divided between peoples of Greek and Turkish cultures. The southern two-thirds is occupied by the Republic of Cyprus (Greek), the northern third by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the United Nations; the Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized only by Turkey.

Location:

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area

Total:

9,251 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)

Comparison to the world:

170

Land:

9,241 sq km

Water:

10 sq km

Area comparative:

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries Total:

150.4 km (approximately)

Land boundaries Note:

Border countries

Countries:

Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia 103 km (approximately)

Coastline

Value:

648 km

Note:

Maritime claims

Territorial sea:

12 nm

Climate:

Current Weather temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes

Lowest point:

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Highest point:

Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use

Kind:

arable land

Percentage:

10,81%

Year:

2005

Kind:

permanent crops

Percentage:

4,32%

Kind:

other

Percentage:

84,87%

Irrigated land

Value:

400 sq km

Year:

2003

Total renewable water resources

Value:

0.4 cu km

Year:

2005

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

Total:

0.21 cu km/yr (27%/1%/71%)

Per capital:

250 cu m/yr

Natural hazards:

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:

water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements

Party to:

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands

Signed but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

Geography note:

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

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