| The World Factbook | ||
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Akrotiri |
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| Introduction | Akrotiri |
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Background:
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By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area. |
| Geography | Akrotiri |
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Location:
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peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus |
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Geographic coordinates:
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34 37 N, 32 58 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands |
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Area - comparative:
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about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 47.4 km
border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km |
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Coastline:
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56.3 km |
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Climate:
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temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
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Environment - current issues:
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shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base |
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Geography - note:
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British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus |
| People | Akrotiri |
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Population:
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no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there |
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Languages:
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English, Greek |
| Government | Akrotiri |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Akrotiri |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus |
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Capital:
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name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
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Constitution:
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Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960 |
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Legal system:
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the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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the flag of the UK is used |
| Economy | Akrotiri |
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Economy - overview:
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Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. |
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Currency (code):
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Cypriot pound (CYP) |
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Exchange rates:
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Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002) |
| Communications | Akrotiri |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM NA, FM 1, shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006) |
| Military | Akrotiri |
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Military - note:
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Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit |
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This page was last updated on 31 May, 2007 |