CYPRUS
(Republic of Cyprus. The island state in east part of the Mediterranean Sea. Member of the European Union.)

Capital: Nicosia

Flag: national flag consists of the map of Cyprus in gold established over two green olive branches on the white field.

ANTHEM: Ethnikos Hymnos (The national anthem), since "Se gnorizoi apo tin kopsi" ("I recognize you by the sharpness of your shovel").

MONETARY BLOCK: The Cypriot pound (with 1) is paper currency in 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents and 1 pound and also notes in 50 cents and 1, 5, 10 and 20 pounds. ci 1 = $2,12766 (or $1 = c 0,47) since 2005. The Turkish lira (tl) of 100 kurus is currency in the Cyprian-Turkish zone.

WEIGHT AND MEASURES: the metric system is the legal standard. Imperial and local measures are also used.

HOLIDAYS: New year, on January 1; Epiphany, on January 6; Day of the president Makari, on January 19; Independence Day of Greece, on March 25; National day of Cyprus, on April 1; Labor Day, on May 1; Independence Day of Cyprus, on October 1; Day of the Greek Resistance, on October 28; Christmas, on December 25; Day of gifts, on December 26. The holidays celebrated by the Cyprian-Turkish community include creation on February 13 of the Turkish Federal state of Cyprus; Turkish national sovereignty and Children's Day, on April 23; Turkish Youth Day and sport, on May 19; Turkish Victory Day, on August 30; Independence Day of Turkey, on October 29. Moveable Christian religious feasts include Green Monday, Good Friday, Sacred Saturday and Easter Monday. In the Cyprian-Turkish zone moveable Muslim religious feasts are observed.

TIME: 14:00 - midday.

ARRANGEMENT, SIZE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cyprus is the biggest Mediterranean island after Sicily and Sardinia. Including small island outposts Keyp-Andreas, known as Klides, its area is 9 250 sq.km (3 571 quarter. Miles). Rather, the space occupied by Cyprus is about three fifth from the size of the State of Connecticut. Since 1974 a northern third of the island, or 3 367 sq.km (1300 quarter. Miles), I was under the actual control of the Turkish Cyprian Federal State (it is proclaimed in 1975), which declared on November 15, 1983 the independence as Turkish the Republic of Northern Cyprus; the southern two thirds (5 884 sq.km / 2 272 sq. miles) are controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. The narrow zone called by "the green line", patrolled by forces of the UN divides two regions and divides Nicosia, the national capital.

Cyprus is located in an extreme northeast corner of the Mediterranean Sea; these are 71 km (44 miles) from Turkey, 105 km (65 miles) from Syria and about 800 km (500 miles) from the Greek continent. Cyprus stretches for 227 km (141 miles) ene-wsw from the cape of Andreas to the cape Drepanon and 97 km (60 miles) sp-nnv. Average width is 56-72 km (35-45 miles); narrow peninsula known as Karpas.