30. HELLO FROM CYPRUS!!! According to the legend, Cyprus is the birthplace of the goddess of love Aphrodite. Aphrodite was born within the foam of the sea waves, and can actually be compared with the geological birth of Cyprus which after years of lurking below sea has finally surfaced. Cyprus is the largest island in the east Mediterranean and is situated east of Greece.
31. Our small island has long been a crossing point between Europe, Asia and Africa which resulted in the island having been influenced by the Greek, Roman, Byzantine and British cultures. Cyprus geographical position and natural resources have always made it a target for conquerors.
32. Visiting Cyprus, you come across a big number of impulsive monuments that reveal the traces of the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, the Frankish dynasty of the Lusignans, the Venetians, Ottoman Turks and the British that all conquered Cyprus in turn.
33. In 1925 Cyprus became a Crown colony of the UK. After the 1955-59 liberation movement, Cyprus was declared in August 1960 an independent Republic with archbishop Makarios being the first president. In July 1974, a coup overthrew the legal president, Makarios. This gave Turkey the chance to invade and take the northern part of the island.
34. Unfortunately Nicosia remains the only divided European capital as the imaginary green line divides the city in two, the Turkish and the Greek area. Cyprus' estimated population is 800,000 of which 80 percent are Greek Cypriots, 11 percent are Turkish Cypriots and 9 percent are foreigners residing Cyprus. Greek and Turkish are the official languages of Cyprus but English is widely spoken and understood.
35. The well known Cyprus currency was the Cyprus pound. In 2004 Cyprus became a member of the European Union and on the 1st of January 2008 the Cyprus pound was replaced by the euro as the official currency of the Republic of Cyprus. Cyprus has a Subtropical-Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Snow is possible in the Troodos Mountains where you can enjoy skiing during the winter time.
36. During the summer period the beautiful sunny beaches are filled with people enjoying the crystal clear waters. Water sports are at their peak. In the winter time, you can enjoy skiing at the Troodos ski resort or even visit our lovely mountain villages to experience our well known warm hospitality and tasteful traditional dishes.
37. Cyprus is famous for the diversity of flora and fauna. There is a selection of about 350 plant species that do represent our small island. There are few species of mammals in Cyprus. The largest one is the Cyprus Moufflon, a rare type of wild sheep that can only be found in Cyprus. It is highly protected and is considered the national symbol of Cyprus as well as the symbol of our national airline, Cyprus Airways.
38. Other species include the Cyprus Donkey, various types of rodent, hedgehogs, hares, foxes and bats. Cyprus is inhabited by about 25 reptile species including a number of endemic snakes and lizards. Cyprus has also around 400 bird species. Many of those birds are using Cyprus as a temporary station where they migrate from the north of Europe to Africa, and vice versa, or as a refuge against the cold winter period in Europe.
39. Cyprus is classified among the high-income countries. Tourism is the most important revenue earner for Cyprus economy. Other related industries in the tertiary sector include banking and financial services, real estate, transport and communication. Ship refurbishing and repairs, cement manufacturing, gypsum production and beverage processing are the key industries in Cyprus. Cement, pharmaceuticals, and clothing are exported.
40. Citrus fruits, grapes, olives, vegetables, and barley are the main agricultural products. Meat processing, food processing and dairy products are other agriculture based activities in Cyprus. Cyprus main cities are Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Kerynia, and Ammochostos.
41. Nicosia is the capital of Cyprus. It is the largest city of our island while having a population of over 300.000 people. Several universities, colleges, foreign embassies and offshore companies develop a true cosmopolitan feeling. Our school is situated in Engomi, a municipality of Nicosia. It was built in 1960 and it has 330 students within the ages of 12-15.
