Geography

Main article: Geography of Cyprus

Topographic map of Cyprus. Troodos Mountains in the southwest, Mesaoria plain in the middle, Kyrenia Mountains in the north.

The Troodos Mountains experience heavy snowfall in winter. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after the Italian islands of Sicily and Sardinia (both in terms of area and population). It is also the world's 81st largest by area and world's 49th largest by population. It measures 240 kilometres (149 mi) long from end to end and 100 kilometres (62 mi) wide at its widest point, with Turkey 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the north. It lies between latitudes 34 and 36 N, and longitudes 32 and 35 E. Other neighbouring territories include Syria and Lebanon to the east (105 kilometres (65 mi) and 108 kilometres (67 mi), respectively), Israel 200 kilometres (124 mi) to the southeast, Egypt 380 kilometres (236 mi) to the south, and Greece to the northwest: 280 kilometres (174 mi) to the small Dodecanesian island of Kastelorizo (Megisti), 400 kilometres (249 mi) to Rhodes, and 800 kilometres (497 mi) to the Greek mainland. The physical relief of the island is dominated by two mountain ranges, the Troodos Mountains and the smaller Kyrenia Range, and the central plain they encompass, the Mesaoria. The Mesaoria plain is drained by the Pedieos River, the longest on the island. The Troodos Mountains cover most of the southern and western portions of the island and account for roughly half its area. The highest point on Cyprus is Mount Olympus at 1,952 m (6,404 ft), located in the centre of the Troodos range. The narrow Kyrenia Range, extending along the northern coastline,

occupies substantially less area, and elevations are lower, reaching a maximum of 1,024 m (3,360 ft). Geopolitically, the island is subdivided into four main segments. The Republic of Cyprus occupies the southern two-thirds of the island (59.74%). The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus occupies the northern third (34.85%), and the United Nations-controlled Green Line provides a buffer zone that separates the two and covers 2.67% of the island. Lastly, two bases under British sovereignty are located on the island: Akrotiri and Dhekelia, covering the remaining 2.74%.

[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Cyprus

Petra tou Romiou ("Rock of the Greek"), where according to mythology the goddess Aphrodite emerged from the sea.

The sandy beaches are often used as habitats for Green Turtles Cyprus has a subtropical climate Mediterranean and Semi-arid type (in the north-eastern part of island) according to Kppen climate classification signes Csa and Bsh,[65][66] with very mild winters (on the coast) and warm to hot summers. Snow is possible only in the Troodos Mountains in the central part of island. Rain occurs mainly in winter, with summer being generally dry. Cyprus has the warmest climate (and warmest winters) in the Mediterranean part of the European Union.[citation needed] The average annual temperature on the coast is around 24 C (75 F) during the day and 14 C (57 F) at night. Generally summer's/holiday season lasts about 8 months, begins in April with average temperatures of 2123 C (7073 F) during the day and 1113 C (5255 F) at night, ends in November with average temperatures of 2223 C (7273 F) during

the day and 1214 C (5457 F) at night, although also in remaining 4 months temperatures sometimes exceeds 20 C (68 F). Among all cities in the Mediterranean part of the European Union, Limassol has the warmest winters, in the period JanuaryFebruary average temperature is 1718 C (6364 F) during the day and 89 C (4648 F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 1617 C (6163 F) during the day and 79 C (4548 F) at night. In March and December in Limassol average temperatures is 1920 C (6668 F) during the day and 1011 C (5052 F) at night, in other coastal locations in Cyprus is generally 1719 C (6366 F) during the day and 811 C (4652 F) at night. Middle of summer is hot in July and August on the coast the average temperature is usually around 33 C (91 F) during the day and around 23 C (73 F) at night (inside the island, in the highlands average temperature exceeds 35 C (95 F)) while in the June and September on the coast the average temperature is usually around 30 C (86 F) during the day and around 20 C (68 F) at night. Large fluctuations in temperature are rare. Temperatures inside the island are more stringent, with colder winters and more hot summers compared with the coast of the island.[67] Average annual temperature of sea is 2122 C (7072 F), from 17 C (63 F) in February to 2728 C (8182 F) in August (depending on the location). In total 7 months from May to November the average sea temperature exceeds 20 C (68 F).[68] Sunshine hours on the coast is around 3,400 per year, from average 56 hours of sunshine / day in December to average 1213 hours in July.[68] This is about double that of cities in the northern half of Europe, for comparison: London 1,461,[69] however in winter up to some times more sunshine, for comparison: London has 37 hours[69] while coastal locations in Cyprus has around 180 hours of sunshine in December (that is, as much as in May in London).

[edit] Water supply

Kouris Dam is the largest of a network of 107 dams in Cyprus. Cyprus is suffering from an ongoing shortage of water. The country relies heavily on rain to provide household water and for many years now, the average annual rainfall seemed to be falling. Between 2001 and 2004, exceptionally heavy annual rainfall pushed water reserves up, with supply exceeding demand, allowing total storage in the island's reservoirs to rise to an all time high by the start of 2005. However, since then demand has increased annually a result of local population growth, foreigners relocating to Cyprus and the number of visiting tourists while supply has fallen. Cyprus has a total of 107 dams (plus one currently under construction)

and reservoirs, with a total water storage capacity of about 330,000,000 m3 (1.21010 cu ft).[70] Dams remain the principal source of water both for domestic and agricultural use. Water desalination plants are gradually being constructed in order to deal with recent years of prolonged drought. The Government has invested heavily in the creation of water desalination plants which have supplied almost 50 percent of domestic water since 2001. Efforts have also been made to raise public awareness of the situation and to encourage domestic water users to take more responsibility for the conservation of this increasingly scarce commodity