The recent history of the fabulous holiday island of Cyprus is quite interesting. Why is there such a strong British influence here? well, Cyprus is a former British colony although the island received independence in 1960. Subsequent tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic inter-communal tension continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island.

In 1974, a Greek-sponsored group tried to grab control of the government. However, the Turkish military responded and quickly established control of over a third of the island. The Turkish area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 but to this date it has not been recognised by any other governments aside from Turkey.

The United Nations mediated a 24-month series of discussions between Greek and Turkish Cypriot authorities to arrive at a reunification accord. This came to an end when the Greek Cypriots voted against the U.N. proposal. While the Greek Cypriot Republic of Cyprus alone became a member of the European Union on May 1st, 2004, any person who holds a Cyprus passport is now entitled to full European citizen status.

Nevertheless, European Union mandates are not applicable to northern Cyprus. According to street maps of Cyprus, Nicosia is the official capital, and it still opposes EU attempts to initiate direct trading and business contacts to North Cyprus as a means of rousing the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants to keep supporting reunification.

Atlas and geography maps of Cyprus shows that the island is in the Mediterranean sea in the Middle East and is south of Turkey. Cyprus weather forecast and atlas and geography maps of Cyprus show that the temperate there is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool though relatively mild winters.

Cyprus geography maps and atlases show the area to be 9,250 sq km, which makes it the Mediterranean Sea's third biggest island. There are numerous natural resources in Cyprus, including copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment. Natural hazards in the area include moderate earthquakes and droughts. Cyprus's terrain is central plain, and there are mountains to the north and south. There are also noteworthy plains along the southern coast, although they tend to be somewhat dispersed.

According to atlas and geography maps of Cyprus, the island is located in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. Cyprus weather forecast shows the temperatures of Cyprus are Mediterranean, with hot, arid summers and relatively mild, cool winters. The area is 9,250 sq km as shown in maps of Cyprus and Nicosia in Cyprus street maps. It's the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The natural resources are copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment. Moderate earthquake activity and occasional droughts are natural hazards in Cyprus.