This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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 in total: 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 20 October, 2005