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| Dhekelia |

Introduction | Dhekelia

Background: | 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 in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Geography | Dhekelia

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

People | Dhekelia

Population: | no indigenous personnel note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; 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

Government | Dhekelia

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: | Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
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 Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence 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 | Dhekelia

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

Military | Dhekelia

Military - note: | includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005