North Cyprus The Secret Island
Posted by Rhiannon Williamson
Since 1974 the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean has been divided, leaving the haven that is North Cyprus totally unspoilt from the excesses of tourism. Since the people of North Cyprus accepted the Annan plan in 2004 America and the EU are welcoming the country back onto the travel scene. If you choose to visit North Cyprus find out what an incredible gem is in store for your delight.
Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and North Cyprus enjoys nearly half of Cyprus' coastline. Information about North Cyprus' perfect climate and what delights the weather brings for visitors! North Cyprus lies about 70 miles south of Turkey and enjoys a fantastic eastern Mediterranean climate with long hot summers and short temperate winters, the average sea temperature is above 20 ºC for more well over half the year and North Cyprus benefits from an average of 320 - 340 days sunshine a year making it a year round favourite for tourists. The coastline of North Cyprus offers some of the finest and safest bathing in the Mediterranean, and the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea brings delights for swimmers, snorkelers, divers, sailors, water-skiers and fishermen alike. North Cyprus' rainfall is low and concentrated in December and January – and the rains there are a good thing, unlike the rain in Northern Europe! The rains bring the wild flowers for which North Cyprus is also renowned, they carpet the island in the spring and varieties are diverse and include more than 38 species of orchid alone! Add to this the scents of the orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit blossoms and your senses will be struck by the aromatic and visual beauty of North Cyprus. Information about North Cyprus, its scenery and landmarks. The fertile northern coastal strip is today accepted as one of the most beautiful natural areas in the world in which to live. It offers lush scenery and behind it is the most spectacular backdrop of the Besparmak Mountains which are also known as the Kyrenia or Girne mountain range. The mountains are sheer and breathtaking and decorated with medieval castles, fortresses and ancient ruins. Covering these rugged slopes are fragrant pines forests, olive groves and carob trees and you will find many a picturesque village in between! In land, behind the rocky mountain range and the imposing Five Finger Mountain you will find the huge fertile Mesaoria plain. From here you reach Ercan airport and the island's capital city of Nicosia or Lefkosa. If you journey further along the east coast you will find the ancient fortified city of Famagusta or Gazimagosa and close by the ruins of Salamis. To the north east the landscape turns into small pasture lands enclosed by stone walls and dotted with olive trees and rocky outcrops. The beaches along the coast here are a blend of rock pools and sheltered sandy bays. Simply put the contrasting scenery in North Cyprus will take your breath away - from the delicate jewel of Kyrenia harbour to the stunning Besparmak mountains, from the beautiful coastlines to the unspoilt stretches of beach and isolated secret coves, North Cyprus is an incredible place. You will be spoilt if you visit, and will find you need to keep coming back for more! When you visit North Cyprus you will find the Turkish Cypriot people to be the warmest, most welcoming and generous people; in fact their friendliness is legendary. And if you choose to make North Cyprus your home – whether permanently or for a few weeks every year on holiday – you will find you are universally welcome. Information about North Cyprus, accessibility and getting to North Cyprus. Since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in May 2004 the green line between the North and the South side of the island is wide open for EU passport holders – making it easy for EU citizens to visit the North and South of the island freely. North Cyprus has an airport called Ercan – you can fly from here to Istanbul and connect with international flights or you can fly from here to the UK and Germany for example. You can also sail to and from North Cyprus from Turkey. The airports in Larnaca and Paphos are also accessible if you want to travel to North Cyprus and there are many taxi firms who will offer you a transfer to your destination of choice in North Cyprus. Rhiannon Williamson is an experienced publisher who has produced articles for leading travel and tourism guides and financial magazines. Her specialist knowledge about both travel and finance gives her site Shelter Offshore the unique ability to literally cover every single aspect of moving & living abroad - including the often less discussed offshore tax advantages that can be available when leaving our homeland.
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