Where is Cyprus?
So, exactly where is Cyprus? Is it in the Middle East or Europe? Well, geographically it’s pretty much straddling the two. Economically, it’s part of Europe (southern Cyprus anyway), and has become a member of the European Union. It’s the third biggest of the Mediterranean islands, with a land area of around 9,250 sq km (compared to around 244,820 sq km for the UK) and its coastline is just short of 650km. It’s just 40 miles off the south coast of Turkey and Syria is not much more than that to the east. Cyprus's location, like many island nations, is of great strategic value, accounting for the succession of invaders over the centuries. This ranges from Egyptian occupation by Thutmose III before 1450 BC, to Alexander the Great in 333 BC, to Richard I of England in 1191. Flight times from the UK are around four and a half hours.
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