{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Eastern Mediterranean, on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "34 59 N, 33 45 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Middle East" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "131 sq km" }, "note": "note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves" }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "108 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Cyprus 108 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "27.5 km" }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus; several small Cypriot enclaves exist within the Sovereign Base Area (SBA); of the SBA land, 60% is privately owned and farmed, 20% is owned by the Ministry of Defense, and 20% is SBA Crown land" }, "Map description": { "text": "
Dhekelia map showing the UK Sovereign Base Area as well as the adjacent part of southeast Cyprus.
" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "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" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "English, Greek" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "note: as a United Kingdom area of special sovereignty, \"God Save the Queen\" is official (see United Kingdom)
" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "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": { "text": "none" }, "Exchange rates": { "text": "note: uses the euro
" } }, "Communications": { "Broadcast media": { "text": "British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite TV service as well as BFBS radio broadcasts to the Dhekelia Sovereign Base" } }, "Transportation": { }, "Military and Security": { "Military - note": { "text": "defense of Dhekelia (aka Eastern Sovereign Base Area) is the responsibility of the UK; includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway" } } }