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 - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.
Location
on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta
Geographic coordinates
34 59 N, 33 45 E
Map references
Middle East
Area
total
130.8 sq km
note
area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves
Area - comparative
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed
Coastline
27.5 km
Climate
temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
Environment - current issues
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Geography - note
British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus
Population
no indigenous personnel
note: approximately 2,200 resident military personnel; 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
Languages
English, Greek
Country name
conventional long form
Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form
Dhekelia
Dependency status
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
Capital
name
Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates
34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960, effective 16 August 1960
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 Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY (since 26 April 2006); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defense
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 Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
Industries
none
Currency (code)
Cypriot pound (CYP)
Exchange rates
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005), 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM NA, FM 1 (located in Akrotiri), shortwave NA (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)
Television broadcast stations
0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia) (2006)
Military - note
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway
Sorry, No data available for this section.
Military - note
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway
