Cyprus' contemporary history is simply fascinating. First, there is the extremely wide-ranging impact of Great Britain on its former colony which only became independent in the early 60's. Then, there's the tension among the Greek majority and Turkish minority that overspilled in December of 1963 in Cyprus' capital city, Nicosia. Even though there were United Nations troops deployed a month later, fighting continued to break out from time to time, which drove Turks into isolated pockets all over the island.



A decade later in 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognised only by Turkey.

The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen.

However the laws of the EU do not apply in north Cyprus. Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, continues to stand in opposition of the EU efforts to establish links of direct trade and economy to north Cyprus, which are part of an effort to encourage Turkish Cypriot community members to continue their support of reunification.

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, along with the atlas and geography maps of Cyprus, show the temperatures of Cyprus are Mediterranean, with hot, arid summers and relatively mild, cool 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.