Official Name: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

Area: Middle East

Size: 3,355 km

Independence: from Cyprus November 15, 1983 

Form of Govt.: Semi-presidential representative democratic republic

Head of Govt.: Prime Minister

Capital: Lefkosa

Largest City: Lefkosa

Demographics (2005): 264,172.     78 /km²

GDP per Capita (2005): $16,900

Languages: Turkish, Turkish-Cypriot dialect, English is widely spoken

Geography: The rugged Troodos Mountains, whose principal range stretches from Pomos Point in the northwest almost to Larnaca Bay on the east, are the single most conspicuous feature of the landscape. Intensive uplifting and folding in the formative period left the area highly fragmented, so that subordinate ranges and spurs veer off at many angles, their slopes incised by steep-sided valleys. In the southwest, the mountains descend in a series of stepped foothills to the coastal plain.

Climate: Typically Mediterranean. Summers (June to September) are hot and dry; winters (November to March) are moderately rainy, with a mild temperature. Spring and autumn are warm and pleasant. Average annual temperature 20°C