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.

A decade later in 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but it is recognised only by 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.

EU laws do not apply to north Cyprus. In street maps of Cyprus, Nicosia is the capital and opposes the efforts of the EU to establish any direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus. This is their way to attempt to encourage the Turkish Cypriot community to continue supporting 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.

Atlas and geographic maps show the area of Cyprus to be 9250 square kilometers, the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Many resources are found there naturally, including copper, pyrite, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, and clay. Plains are the most typical geographic feature in the central and southern coast regions, with mountains to the North and South.