Cyprus

Cyprus is an island country in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, covering about 9,250 square kilometres, making it the third largest island in the Mediterranean. It lies south of Turkey, west of Syria and Lebanon, and northwest of Israel, occupying a strategic position between Europe, Asia, and Africa. The island is dominated by two mountain ranges—the Troodos Mountains in the southwest and the smaller Kyrenia Range in the north—separated by the central Mesaoria Plain. Cyprus has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters, although water scarcity is a recurring environmental challenge due to low and irregular rainfall.

The history of Cyprus is marked by a long succession of external influences due to its strategic location. The island was inhabited in prehistoric times and later came under the control of ancient civilizations including the Mycenaeans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. After the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire, followed by rule by the Crusader Lusignan dynasty and later the Republic of Venice. In 1571, the Ottoman Empire conquered Cyprus, ruling it for over three centuries and leaving a lasting cultural and demographic impact. In 1878, administration passed to Britain, and Cyprus officially became a British colony in 1925. The island gained independence in 1960 as the Republic of Cyprus. Tensions between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities led to intercommunal conflict, and in 1974 a coup supported by Greece prompted a Turkish military intervention, resulting in the de facto division of the island. Today, the Republic of Cyprus controls the southern part of the island, while the northern part is administered by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey.

Agriculture in Cyprus is constrained by limited water resources and relatively small areas of arable land, but it remains an important sector in rural areas. The main crops include citrus fruits, olives, grapes, vegetables, and cereals such as barley and wheat. Vine cultivation is historically significant, supporting both wine production and traditional products such as commandaria. Irrigated agriculture is essential in many areas due to the dry climate, and modern techniques such as drip irrigation are widely used to improve water efficiency. Livestock farming includes sheep and goats, which are important for milk production, particularly for traditional cheeses such as halloumi.

Forestry in Cyprus is limited by the island’s size and historical deforestation, but the Troodos forested region contains important stands of Mediterranean pine, cedar, and oak species. These forests play a crucial ecological role in soil conservation, water retention, and biodiversity protection, especially in preventing erosion on steep slopes. Reforestation and environmental protection programs have been implemented to restore degraded areas and manage wildfire risks, which are significant in the dry summer climate.

Fisheries in Cyprus are relatively small-scale due to the narrow continental shelf and limited marine productivity in the eastern Mediterranean. Coastal fishing is the main activity, targeting species such as sea bream, sea bass, grouper, sardines, and octopus. Aquaculture has become increasingly important, particularly marine fish farming in offshore cages, which helps meet domestic demand and reduces pressure on wild stocks. Despite its limited scale, the fishery sector contributes to local food supply and supports coastal communities.

Overall, Cyprus’s geography as a Mediterranean island, its long history of successive foreign rule, and its environmental constraints have strongly shaped its economic development. Agriculture, forestry, and fisheries remain modest but important sectors, closely adapted to water scarcity and limited land resources, while the broader economy increasingly relies on services, tourism, and trade.

In 2010 Gerold was in Cyprus for 8 days. He flew to Larnaca (Republic of Cyprus) and from there by taxi through the UN zone to Northern Cyprus, which has been occupied by Turkey since 1964, but is not recognised by the UN and is therefore still awarded to Cyprus.
He was at an organic event, but it was quite unspectacular. He was on an excursion to Nicosia, the old port of Girne and a 7th century monastery. That was quite exciting. Otherwise, the country is quite rubbished-up.