By legend the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love Aphrodite, 's modern history has, in contrast, been dominated by enmity between its Greek and Turkish inhabitants.
has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded the north in response to a military coup on the island which was backed by the Athens government.
OverviewOverviewFactsLeadersMediaIn 1974 the island was effectively partitioned with the northern third inhabited by Turkish Cypriots and the southern two-thirds by Greek Cypriots.
A "Green Line" - dividing the two parts from Morphou through Nicosia to Famagusta - is patrolled by United Nations troops.
The UN drew up the Green Line as a ceasefire demarcation line in 1963 after intervening to end communal tension. It became impassable after the Turkish invasion of 1974, except for designated crossing points.
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