Location and region
With an area of 9,251 km ², Cyprus is the third largest after Sicily and Sardinia, the Mediterranean island. It lies at the easternmost end of the Mediterranean basin, on the crossroads between Europe, Africa, Asia, 65 miles south of Turkey, 96 km west of Syria, 385 km north of Egypt and 328 km west of Israel. The strategic location of the island has played in its continued development into an international business and investment center an important role.
Climate
It has a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winter weather (the lowest average daily temperatures of 5 ° C) and hot, dry summers (with a maximum daily average temperature of 36 ° C). Cyprus offers an annual average of 320 warm and sunny days.
Population
The Greek Cypriots form the largest population of the island (about 76%), and their number has increased in late 2006 to almost 780,000.
Languages
Official languages are Greek and Turkish. English is widely used as a business language, but other languages are getting more popular.
Religion
The Greek Cypriots are generally Christians and belong to the Greek Orthodox Church of Cyprus, while Cypriot members of smaller minorities such as the Maronites, Armenians and Latins other Christian denominations. The Turkish Cypriots are generally Muslim.
History
The civilization of Cyprus goes according to archaeological findings in the 9th Millennium. BC. The island received its Greek character after its colonization by the Mycenaean Greeks between the 13th and 11 Century BC Then came Cyprus under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian domination and was part of the Roman Empire from 30 BC to 330 AD.
Cyprus over the centuries preserved its Greek identity and the ethnic heritage of the island has been preserved as part of the Hellenistic state of the Ptolemies and the Greek-speaking world of Byzantium alive. The Greek language and culture prevailed in the coming centuries, even though Cyprus came under the rule of successive foreign powers – the King Richard the Lionheart of England and the Knights Templar, the Franks, Venetians, Ottoman Turks and British. 1960 Cyprus gained its independence.
Economy
Based on the system of free market economy, the economy of the island creates a high real growth with low inflation and low unemployment. The private sector is the cornerstone of all economic activities, while the government’s role is limited to monitoring the economy and public utilities. The standard of living in Cyprus is among the highest in the European Union and the economic performance is compared favorably with that of most EU Member States. The importance of the service sector has grown steadily, which indicates its contribution to gross domestic product of almost 80% and its share in employment. Cyprus is now a preferred destination for tourists, a service – especially with regard to banking, shipping, trade and real estate transactions – and a telecommunication junction.
The processing industry controls 8.5% of GDP and the main industries are food, beverages, cigarettes, clothing, cement and metal products. Agriculture contributes about 2.6% of GDP, mainly to potatoes, other vegetables, citrus fruits, cereals, grapes and olives grown.
English 
Deutsch 
Ελληνικα 