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The British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are situated in parts of Cyprus which stayed under British jurisdiction and remained British sovereign territory when the Treaty of Establishment created the independent Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

They cover 254 square kilometres, 128 around Akrotiri, the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA) and 131 around Dhekelia, the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA). They serve as military bases and reports to the British Ministry of Defence in London rather than to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They are a British Overseas Territory with a civilian administration with Administrator, who is Commander of British Forces Cyprus.

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Full name:

Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area,

Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area

Capital city:

Episkopi Cantonment (located on Akrotiri)

Area:

Akrotiri 123 sq km
Dhekelia 130.8 sq km

Population:

Akrotiri 1,300 military personnel
Dhekelia 2,200 military personnel

+5,000 British citizens on both areas

Major language:

English, Greek

Why to visit

Top Places - Akrotiri & Dhekelia

Nr. Place Points Rating Vote
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Akrotiri 0 0  
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Ayia Napa 0 0  
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Cape Gata 0 0  
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Cape Zevgari 0 0  
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Episkopi 0 0  
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Top Experiences - Akrotiri & Dhekelia

Nr. Experience Points Rating Vote
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Wildlife in Akrotiri and Dhekelia 0 0  
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Water sports 0 0  
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The Joint Service Golf Club Dhekelia 0 0  
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Rugby Union Football Club 0 0  
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Festivals in Limassol 0 0  
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Nr. Place Points Rating  1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10
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Akrotiri (click for more information)

Akrotiri is British military enclave in south-central Cyprus that was retained as a sovereign base area by Great Britain. This enclave is located southwest of Limassol and comprises Akrotiri Peninsula. It is the southernmost part of the island and a small costal area north
of Episkopi Bay.

Akrotiri
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Ayia Napa (click for more information)

Ayia Napa lies to the East of Dhekelia. It is a resort at the far eastern end of the south coast
of the island of Cyprus and is famous for its sandy beaches. It is a family holiday destination
as well as place for summer parties similar to Ibiza.

Ayia Napa
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Cape Gata (click for more information)

Cape Gata is the south eastern cape of the Akrotiri Peninsula on the Mediterranean island
of Cyprus. It is located within the British Sovereign Base Areas and is the southern most point of the island.

Cape Gata
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Cape Zevgari (click for more information)

Cape Zevgari lies within the boundaries of the Royal Air Force station – RAF Akrotiri.
The building on the cape is the Princess Mary Hospital, which is the main hospital for British Forces Cyprus.

Cape Zevgari
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Episkopi 0 0
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Episkopi Cantonment (click for more information)

Episkopi Cantonment is the capital of British military base Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the middle of the Akrotiri part.

Episkopi Cantonment
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Larnaca (click for more information)

Larnaca is the main international airport and the modern city. There are many amazing archaeological sites, such as Kition, which offer a good understanding of life in this port town several millennia ago. The city’s museums complement these ancient sites with a plethora
of interesting artefacts and information about the early Cypriot culture. Historic charm is lent
to the scene by its fortress castle that is now used as the summer cultural centre. Apart from the rich history, Larnaca is best known for the excellent beaches and clear seas which surround the city.

Larnaca
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Limassol (click for more information)

Limassol is the largest city in geographical size. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay on the southern coast. Limassol is renowned for its long cultural tradition. There is wide spectrum of activities and lot of museums and archaeological sites. It is also the biggest port in the Mediterranean transit trade.

Limassol
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Limassol salt lake (click for more information)

Limassol salt lake also known as Akrotiri salt lake lies due south-east of the spacious city
of Limassol. This lake measures 10.65 km². Geologists hypothesize the lake was formed
over the gradual joining of an offshore islet off the southern coast of Cyprus. The lake itself is considered as one of the eastern Mediterranean’s most important wetlands.

Limassol salt lake
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Ormidhia (click for more information)

The villages of Xylotymvou and Ormidhia are enclaves surrounded by Dhekelia SBA, but they are administered by the internationally recognized government of Cyprus.

Ormidhia
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Xylotymvou (click for more information)

The villages of Xylotymvou and Ormidhia are enclaves surrounded by Dhekelia SBA, but they are administered by the internationally recognized government of Cyprus.

Xylotymvou
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Bird watching (click for more information)

Akrotiri and Dhekelia are of major importance as a staging area during spring and autumn passage. It is also important for wintering water birds, especially Phoenicopterus ruber and Anas. Many species are recorded regularly every year, ranging from raptors and large water birds to small warblers and finches. Akrotiri salt lake is the home of Greater Flamingos, but you can see also Green and Wood Sandpipers as well as fuscous Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Spotted Redshank and a few Black-headed Wagtails.

Bird watching
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Festivals in Limassol (click for more information)

Limassol is famous for its Carnival that takes place there. The Carnival lasts for ten days,
with jolly and amusing masquerading. The festival starts with the entrance parade of the King Carnival. After that there is a fancy-dress competition for children. During the Carnival parade in the main street the city is full of people and everybody from all over the island come to watch the floats with the serenade and other masqueraded groups.

Festivals in Limassol
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Rugby Union Football Club (click for more information)

Rugby Clubs throughout the services have a record of being the most popular sports and social clubs on any unit. The club runs four teams and the season runs from October to March and includes league fixtures and a cup competition against other teams from both the WSBA and ESBA. Rugby is very good and there is a healthy mix from across the services.

Rugby Union Football Club
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The Joint Service Golf Club Dhekelia (click for more information)

This golf club was founded in 1964.  Since the initial conception the club has grown from strength to strength and now has a membership of nearly 250 golfers from all walks of life, these include British Serviceman, ex-military and civilians living in Cyprus.

The Joint Service Golf Club Dhekelia
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Water sports (click for more information)

The Joint Akrotiri Water Sports club (JAWS) is a Joint Services facility located at Royal Air Force Akrotiri on the southern coast of Cyprus. JAWS is situated in an idyllic location to enable the total enjoyment of various forms of water sports. The club offers powerboat, sailing and windsurfing courses throughout the long summer season from April to October
for serving soldiers, sailors and airmen and their dependents.

Water sports
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Wildlife in Akrotiri and Dhekelia (click for more information)

A joint exercise protects breeding loggerhead and green turtles on the beaches within the WSBA. The only remaining colony of griffon vultures on Cyprus is on the cliffs at Episkopi in the WSBA, and there is a large colony of Eleanor’s falcons both here and
on the cliffs bordering the Royal Air Force station at Akrotiri.

Wildlife in Akrotiri and Dhekelia
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Why to visit Akrotiri & Dhekelia


The British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are situated in parts of Cyprus which stayed under British jurisdiction and remained British sovereign territory when the Treaty of Establishment created the independent Republic of Cyprus in 1960.

They cover 254 square kilometres, 128 around Akrotiri, the Western Sovereign Base Area (WSBA) and 131 around Dhekelia, the Eastern Sovereign Base Area (ESBA). They serve as military bases and reports to the British Ministry of Defence in London rather than to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. They are a British Overseas Territory with a civilian administration with Administrator, who is Commander of British Forces Cyprus.

The administration of the Bases is driven by three main policy objectives: effective use as a military base, full cooperation with the Republic of Cyprus, and protection of those resident or working in the Bases.

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

People in Akrotiri and Dhekelia

There are not indigenous inhabitants in Akrotiri and Dhekelia and when the bases were established, the boundaries were drawn up to avoid centres of population. In the bases live around 14 000 people. Around 7 000 of them are native Cypriots, who work in the bases or on a farmland within the boundaries. The British military personnel and their families make the rest of the population on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

History of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

The Sovereign Base Areas were created in 1960 by the Treaty of Establishment. Cyprus, a colony within the British Empire acquired independence by this Treaty, but the Great Britain retained sovereignty over the Akrotiri and Dhekelia, including RAF base. British use these areas as military bases in Cyprus and garrison them by British Army. RAF base is used as staging post for military aircraft and for general training purposes. The importance of the Bases to the British is based on the strategic location of Cyprus, at the eastern edge of the Mediterranean, close to the Suez Canal and the Middle East.

What to do in Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Whilst you are visiting Cyprus, you can visit also RAF Akrotiri and military bases. All visits are escorted tours with a RAFA representative and you will be asked to make a donation to RAFA for this service, because the use their own cars for your visit, their own petrol and time and all proceeds go to RAFA. Access to RAF Akrotiri is subject to change without notice and RAFA cannot be responsible if the entry is denied.



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