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Geography

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia) situated at the hub of 3 continents, Europe, Asia and Africa. Cyprus is approximately 100 kilometres west of Syria, 370 kilometres north of Egypt and 70 kilometres south of Turkey.  Its 9251 square kilometres encompass pine forested mountains as well as some of Europe's cleanest beaches.  The island enjoys the best type of Mediterranean climate with abundant sunshine even in winter. The island provides a perfect climate for summer holidays. It is estimated that there are more than 300 sunny days each year. The sun is a resilient force in Cyprus, shining high and bright enough to keep the sea warm for comfortable swimming from early May all the way through October. The average annual temperature for the island as a whole is about 20° C ranging from as low as 10° C in January and going up to 40° C in August.

Out of a total of 867.600 inhabitants the estimated composition of the population by community at the end of 2006 was approximately 76% Greek Cypriots, 12% Turkish Cypriots, 12% Foreign residents Source: Cyprus Statistical Service, Demographic Report The total population figures do not include illegal settlers from Turkey, the number of which most probably is in the range of 150-200 thousands.