Cyprus

Home> Countries> Europe> Cyprus

Country Name

Cyprus or officially the Republic of Cyprus.

Location

Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus is bordered to the north by Turkey, to the east by Syria and Lebanon, to the south by Egypt, and to the northwest by Greece. Cyprus is the third largest Mediterranean island after Sardinia and Sicily, and ahead of Crete.

Geographically, Cyprus is closer to Asia but is historically and culturally

a European country.

The Republic of Cyprus occupies two-thirds of the island in the south, and the Turkish Republic occupies the northern third of the island.

There are also two bases, Akrotiri and Dhekelia, that are under British sovereignty.

This UN-controlled buffer zone separates the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus.

Capital

Nicosia.

Reason for Naming the country

Through overseas trade, the island has given its name to the Classical Latin word for copper "Cyprium, "metal of Cyprus", later shortened to Cuprum.

The standard word relating to Cyprus or its people or culture is Cypriot.

The terms Cypriot and Cyprian are also used, though less frequently.

The state's official name in Greek and Turkish literally translates as "Cypriot Republic" in English, but this translation is not used officially, in favor of "Republic of Cyprus" instead.

Flag

The national flag of Cyprus was adopted on 16 August 1960 (after gaining independence from the United Kingdom). The current flag was adopted on 24 April 2006.

The flag of Cyprus features a white background with a copper-colored map of the island at the center, and two crossed olive branches at the bottom.

Although the original design was officially adopted on August 16, 1960, when the country gained independence from British colonial rule, some minor modifications were made on April 24, 2006.