Country List | World Factbook Home
CIA Seal  World Factbook Seal Dhekelia
Flag of Dhekelia
Map of Dhekelia
Introduction Dhekelia
Background:
By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these 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
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
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; located in Akrotiri
Legal system:
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply