Traveller's101

You should know...

Visitors to the island of Cyprus will find this Mediterranean nation a wonderful mixture of beautiful scenery, historical sites, and modern day luxuries.  The island has been split in half since 1974, inhabited by the Greek Cypriots in the south – accounting for close to 80% of the entire populate – and the Turkish Cypriots to the north.  While the international community recognizes the island as the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey and the islands, Turkish residents recognize the northern portion of the island as the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (TRNC). 
When investigating the lay of the land, visitors here will find that most of the island is lowland areas with the center of the lowlands being the Messoria Plains.  There are two mountain ranges on the island.  The Kyrenia mountain range is in the north and includes the peaks known as the ‘Five Fingers’.  The Trodos mountain range in the south contains the highest peak on the island, reaching an impressive 1952 meters above sea level. 

The flora of the island is very tropical in nature along the coastlines as well as hearty in the mountain regions.  The mountains mainly consist of pinjies and macchia, a very bushy type of plant.  The island once held some beautiful oak forests, but they are long since gone, having been forested centuries ago.  With mild, damp winters, and hot, dry summers, the island’s climate is perfect for growing grain, olives, potatoes, cotton, fruit, and grapes for wine, all of which is produced and exported from the island nation.  Most of these products have been flourishing under the Turkish Cypriot control.

Tourism in Cyprus

The other revenue bearing industry on the island is tourism.  For a long period of time there was very little to the island due to the strict controls of the Green Line that splits the Greek and Turkish parts of the island.  However, strides have been made on both sides of the Green Line to promote more tourism, and visitors to the island are finding it easier to travel between the two sections so that they can experience everything there is. 

Anyone who immigrates to the island will find themselves working under a social insurance system that entitles them to health care, unemployment insurance, maternity leave, and more with two weeks of paid vacation per full year of work. 
Cyprus boasts approximately twelve daily newspapers, all of which are produced in the city of Nicosia.  One of the daily newspapers, the Cyprus Mail, is printed in English.  The Cyprus Weekly is a weekly edition paper that is also printed in English for the ease of their tourists.   

Transportation around the island is limited to buses and taxis unless visitors rent a private car at one of the airports.  There used to be a railway system on the island, but it shut down in the 1950s due to financial reasons.  There are two International Airports on Cyprus, one located in Larnaca and one in Paphos.  Because of the political climate between the two factions of the island, there are no direct flights into the northern Turkish controlled section.

 

Quick facts:

Size: 9251 km2

Capital: Nicosia

Language: Greek and Turkish

Religion: Greek Orthodox and Islamic

Constitution: Republic, member of the British Commonwealth

Currency: Pounds (Greek) and Lira (Turkish)

Electric Outlet/Voltage 220 Volt with English 3 hole outlet. (Adapters are available at all hotels and supermarkets)