This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006

Legend: Definition Field Listing Rank Order

Background:

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.

Location:	peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
Geographic coordinates:	34 37 N, 32 58 E
Map references:	Middle East
Area:	total: 123 sq km note: includes a salt lake and wetlands
Area - comparative:	about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:	total: 47.4 km border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km
Coastline:	56.3 km
Climate:	temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues:	shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Geography - note:	British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

Population:	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
Languages:	English, Greek

Country name:	conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area conventional short form: Akrotiri
Dependency status:	overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital:	Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
Legal system:	the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Executive branch:	chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Thomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US:	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:	the flag of the UK is used

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Military - note:

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

This page was last updated on 29 March, 2006