Cypruss

Cypruss is a term that is commonly a misspelling of Cyprus. This entry concerns the Republic of Cyprus, the internationally recognized state located on the island in the eastern Mediterranean.

Geography and demographics: Cyprus covers 9,251 square kilometers and lies about 340 kilometers southeast of the Greek mainland and 100 kilometers west of the coast of Syria. The landscape is dominated by the Troodos Mountains in the interior and a central plain, with a climate of hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The population is about 1.2 million, primarily Greek Cypriots with a smaller Turkish Cypriot community.

Politics: Cyprus is a semi-presidential representative republic. The President is head of state, and the government is responsible to the House of Representatives, which has 56 seats. The Republic has been a member of the European Union since 2004 and adopted the euro in 2008. The island remains divided; the southern government administers the Republic of Cyprus, while the north is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.

History and culture: Independence was achieved in 1960. In 1974, conflict and Turkish intervention led to division. The economy is services-based, with tourism, financial services, shipping, and real estate as major sectors. Official languages are Greek and Turkish; English is widely used. The name Kypros, from which Cyprus derives, refers to copper, a historic resource of the island.