Geography
The Republic of Cyprus is an island in the Eastern Mediterranean (part of the Middle East), located thirty-five miles south of Turkey and sixty-four miles south-west of Syria .

Nicosia, the capital city, is located centrally on the island. It is divided into two sections, with Turkish and Greek communities separated by a fortified border.

Larnaka, one of Cyprus' main ports, is located on the southern coast of the island. The most important cities in Northern Cyprus are Famagusta and Kyrenia.

Cyprus consists of two mountainous regions, separated by the Mesaoria plain. The Troodos, the southern mountain group, is taller with the highest peak, Mount Olympus, rising two thousand metres above sea level. The Kyrenia mountain group, in the north, is about half as high; the Pentadaktylos Mountain is very striking with a peak resembling five fingers.

The weather in Cyprus is usually sunny and hot (between 32 degrees and 25 degrees Celsius) with some rain, especially on the Troodos Mountains, during the winter months.

Environment
Today, desertification, often the result of deforestation and soil erosion, threatens much of the world's land surface. In Cyprus trees have been felled for shipbuilding and there has also been over-grazing by animals. Another important environmental issue is the problem of water supplies.

Despite these environmental difficulties Cyprus has a variety of flora. Trees include cypresses, eucalyptus, juniper, oak, olive, plane and pines; flowers are flowering bulbs, cyclamen, cistus, chrysanthemums, orchids, poppies and thyme.

Urbanisation has led to a decrease in wildlife habitats although there are still a few moufflon (wild sheep) which is Cyprus' largest animal. Small creatures are bats, lizards, chameleons, geckos, tree frogs, snakes, and praying mantids. Loggerhead turtles lay their eggs on the beach at Lara; there are also green turtles and monk seals (Akamas Peninsula). Birds include birds of prey such as falcons and eagles. The Salt Lakes near Larnaka and Limassol are home to migrating birds and flamingoes in the cooler season of the year.

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