About Cyprus: History and background information

Cyprus – one of the world's most popular tourist destinations islocated in the hot and sunny Mediterranean.

Officially the Republic of Cyprus, this country is a Eurasian island located in the East Mediterranean. Turkey sits to the North, the Levant to the West, and Egypt to the South with Greece sitting East-Southeast. Syria and Lebanon also sit to the East and Israel to the South East.

Geography:

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus sits at a crossroads between Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. It is for this reason that Greek, Anatolian, Levantine and British influences have all played their part in the Cypriot culture.

The climate of Cyprus is mainly temperate and Mediterranean. The summers are dry with temperatures warm at high elevations (for example, in the Troödos Mountains) to very hot in the lowlands. Winters are generally rainy with mild temperatures at low elevations and cold temperatures accompanied by snow in the mountains.

Government:

The Republic of Cyprus runs under a Presidential Republic system whereby the Head of State and Government is the President. He or she is elected for a five year term by the general public. The Government exercises executive power and federal legislative power alongside the House of Representatives.

The House members are elected on separate voters` rolls and has 59 members who serve a five year term,

Judiciary power is independent of the Executive and the Legislative.

Foreign Relations:

Cyprus is a member of UNESCO, the European Union, WTO, Australia Group, Interpol, and many more organizations.

Transport:

Cyprus has no more rail service as the last was dismantled in 1950. Visitors and inhabitants can travel by road, sea and air. Cyprus is one of four EU nations whose vehicles drive on the left side of the road, which remains as a remnant of colonization from the British.

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© Written by E.J.Clarke