Geography of Cyprus
Location
Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey.
Geographic Coordinates
35 00 N, 33 00 E
Geographical Area
Land
9,250 Sq Km.
Water
9,240 Sq Km.
Land Boundary
10 Km.
Border Countries
Length of Coastline
684 Km.
Terrain
Central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast.
Elevation Extremes
Lowest Point
Mediterranean Sea 0m
Highest Point
Mount Olympus 1,951m
Natural Resources
Copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment.
Land Use
Arable Land
11%
Permanent Crops
4%
Other
85%
Irrigated Land
400 Sq Km.
Natural Hazards
Moderate earthquake activity; droughts.
Environmental Issues
Water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization.
