Located at the cross-roads of three continents, Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, situated 40 miles south of Turkey at its nearest coastal point. It is smaller than Sicily and Sardinia and larger than Corsica and Crete. North Cyprus comprises a total area of 1357 square miles, with over half of the Island’s 240 miles of coastline.

Cyprus has been divided into two autonomous states since 1974. This came about by virtue of the linguistic and cultural differences, and as a result of communal friction which lasted for 11 years (See history). Greek Cypriots occupy the southern and the Turkish Cypriots occupy the northern part of Cyprus. A boundary known as the `Green Line` runs through Lefkoşa (Nicosia), the capital of both South and North Cyprus, separating the two states.

The geography of North Cyprus is characterized by a unique blend of beaches, plains and mountains. The Kyrenia or Beşparmak (Five Finger) mountain range, with its magnificent jagged limestone peaks, the highest of which is Mount Selvili at 3357 ft., runs along most of the north coastline to form a startling backdrop.

To the east of the island the mountain range loses height as it extends along the narrow peninsula known as Karpaz or “Panhandle”, a spectacular region of rolling hills and unspoilt sandy bays. To the south of the Five Finger range lie the plains of Mesaoria and the capital city Lefkoşa. Other major centres are Güzelyurt in the west, the resort town of Girne (Kyrenia) on the northern coast, and the second resort town of Gazimağusa in the east.

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