| The World Factbook | ||
|
|
Akrotiri |
|
|
| Introduction | Akrotiri |
|
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. |
| Geography | Akrotiri |
|
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 |
| People | Akrotiri |
|
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 |
| Government | Akrotiri |
|
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:
|
name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October |
|
Constitution:
|
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960 |
|
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 Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); 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 | Akrotiri |
|
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. |
|
Currency (code):
|
Cypriot pound (CYP) |
|
Exchange rates:
|
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002) |
| Communications | Akrotiri |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
|
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006) |
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006) |
| Military | Akrotiri |
|
Military - note:
|
Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit |
|
This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007 |