Europe :: Akrotiri

- Introduction :: Akrotiri
- 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 - Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.
- Geography :: Akrotiri
- Location:
  Eastern Mediterranean, peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus
  Geographic coordinates:
  34 37 N, 32 58 E
  Map references:
  Middle East
  Area:
  total: 123 sq km

  note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

  country comparison to the world: 224
  Area - comparative:
  about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  total: 48 km
  border countries (1): Cyprus 48 km
  Coastline:
  56.3 km
  Climate:
  temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters
  Environment - current issues:
  hunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
  Geography - note:
  British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; of the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land
- People and Society :: Akrotiri
- Population:
  approximately 15,500 on the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia including 9,700 Cypriots and 5,800 Service and UK-based contract personnel and dependents (2011)
  Languages:
  English, Greek
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
- Government :: Akrotiri
- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Akrotiri
  etymology: named for the village that lies within the Western Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus
  Dependency status:
  a special form of UK overseas territory; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
  Capital:
  name: Episkopi Cantonment (base administrative center for Akrotiri and Dhekelia)
  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
  etymology: "Episkopi" means "episcopal" in Greek and stems from the fact that the site previously served as the bishop's seat of an Orthodox diocese
  Constitution:
  presented 3 August 1960, effective 16 August 1960 (The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council 1960 serves as a basic legal document); amended 1966 (2016)
  Legal system:
  laws applicable to the Cypriot population are, as far as possible, the same as the laws of the Republic of Cyprus; note - the Sovereign Base Area Administration has its own court system to deal with civil and criminal matters
  Judicial branch:
  highest courts: Senior Judges' Court (consists of several visiting judges from England and Wales)
  judge selection and term of office: see entry for United Kingdom
  subordinate courts: Resident Judges' Court; Courts Martial
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Administrator Major General James ILLINGWORTH (since 14 March 2017); note - administrator reports to the British Ministry of Defense; the chief officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the civil government of the Sovereign Bases
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Ministry of Defense
  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
  National anthem:

  note: as a UK area of special sovereignty, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

- Economy :: Akrotiri
- Economy - overview:
  Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.
  Exchange rates:

  note: uses the euro

- Communications :: Akrotiri
- Broadcast media:
  British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area (2009)
- Transportation :: Akrotiri
- Airports:
  1 (2017)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Airports - with paved runways:
  2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
- Military and Security :: Akrotiri
- Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK; Akrotiri has a full RAF base, headquarters for British Forces Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit