Cyprus Geography
Cyprus Geography: A summary of information about Cyprus Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Cyprus: Geography
Location
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey
Geographic coordinates
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish Cypriot area) land: 9,240 sq km water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
648 km
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate
temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, winters
Terrain
central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Olympus 1,951 m
Natural resources
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment
Land use
arable land: 12% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 13% other: 70% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
390 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
moderate earthquake activity
Environment - current issues
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization
Environment - international agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
