Tromelin Island (2005) | Dhekelia (2005) | |
Airports | 1 (2004 est.) | - |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
- |
Area | total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 130.8 sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves |
Area - comparative | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC | about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC |
Background | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station. | 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 larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area. |
Capital | - | Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri |
Climate | tropical | temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters |
Coastline | 3.7 km | 27.5 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Dhekelia |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands | overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus |
Diplomatic representation from the US | - | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation in the US | - | none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Disputes - international | claimed by Mauritius | - |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
- |
Environment - current issues | NA | netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn |
Executive branch | - | chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas 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 |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | the flag of the UK is used |
Geographic coordinates | 15 52 S, 54 25 E | 34 59 N, 33 45 E |
Geography - note | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) | British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus |
Industries | - | none |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | - |
Land boundaries | 0 km | total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001) |
- |
Languages | - | English, Greek |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar | on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta |
Map references | Africa | Middle East |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
- |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway |
Natural hazards | NA | - |
Natural resources | fish | - |
Population | uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 est.) | no indigenous personnel
note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | - |
Terrain | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic | - |