Cyprus, the UK's favourite holiday island, has an interesting history. Cyprus was a British colony and obtained independence in 1960 however the influence of the British is still seen here. Post independence the tensions between Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a boiling point in December 1963 and a significant clash ocurred in the capital of Nicosia, after this most Turkish Cypriots went into enclaves throughout the island.

In 1974, a Greek-sponsored group tried to grab control of the government. However, the Turkish military responded and quickly established control of over a third of the island. The Turkish area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in 1983 but to this date it has not been recognised by any other governments aside from Turkey.

The United Nations mediated a round of peace talks that continued for two years between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, in an attempt to reunite Cyprus. These talks ended in April 2004, after Greek Cypriots turned down the UN's settlement plans. The Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government, joined the European Union on the first of May, 2004. However, all Cypriots with passports are now considered citizens of Europe.

However EU laws will not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia, in Cyprus street maps, is the capital and continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

Atlas and geography maps of Cyprus shows that the island is in the Mediterranean sea in the Middle East and is south of Turkey. Cyprus weather forecast and atlas and geography maps of Cyprus show that the temperate there is typically Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool though relatively mild winters.

The area is 9,250 sq km as shown in atlas and geography maps of Cyprus. It's the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The natural resources found there are- copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment. Moderate earthquake activity and occasional droughts are natural hazards in Cyprus. Its terrain is central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast.