CYPRUS (Lat., from Gk. Kilrpos, Kypros). Oue of the largest and most important islands in the Mediterranean, in the northeast of that sea, nearly equidistant from Asia Minor on the north and Syria on the east, 4G miles from the former, and about 50 miles from the latter (Map: Turkey in Asia, E 5). It is 145 miles long and 60 miles wide. Area, 3584 square miles. Cy prus formerly belonged to the Ottoman Empire, but since 1878 has been under British control. A great part of the island is occupied by two mountain ranges in a general direction of west to east. The loftiest, which fills the whole southern portion of the island, is called Olympus, a name applied by the ancients to one particular peak. The highest summit is that of .Mount Troodos, about 6500 feet. The range terminates in the isolated peak of Oros Stavro, or Hill of the Holy Cross, a Conspicuous object from Larnaka, and evidently the peak called Olympus by Strabo, although it is but 2300 feet high. The northern range is an unbroken ridge for 100 miles, inferior in elevation to the other, its highest summits not exceeding feet. Between these ranges is a broad plain extending across the island from the Bay of Famagosta to that of Morpbu on the west, about 60 miles long and from 10 to 20 miles wide. This plain is called Messaria, and is watered by two streams. It is open, but little cultivated. It is bare of timber, and only the loftiest and central summits of the Olympian range retain their covering of pine woods. The climate varies in different localities; in the central plain and about Larnaka the heat is excessive, but is tempered by cool sea-breezes until about the mid dle of September, between which time and the end of October is the hottest period. The winter is short and cold, but snow is seldom seen except upon high mountain peaks. Fevers are prevalent during the warm months.
In ancient times Cyprus supplied the Greek monarchs of Egypt with timber for their fleets. It was also celebrated for its mineral wealth, especially for copper, a metal which takes its name (evprum) from the name of the island. No eopper-mines are now worked. There was also considerable silver produced. and Pliny says the precious stones were found there. Salt, for which the island was noted in olden times, is still produced in large quantities in the neighbor hood of Larnaka and Limasol. Gypsum and terra-umbra are the chief minerals found. The principal vegetable productions are eotton, wines, and fruits; some tobacco is grown. Cultiva tion is easy and the soil in many places is ex ceedingly productive, particularly at the foot of Mount Olympus, and along the level land of the northern shore.
Drainage and the of trees has greatly benefited the least healthful regions. Agricul ture and manufactures, formerly in a backward state, have made considerable progress since the island came under British rule; according to current estimates about two-thirds of the arable land is under cultivation. The success of the crops depends on irrigation, which is chiefly ef fected by means of wells. The rivers are short and variable in volume, depending for their water on the rains and the melted snow from the moun tains. During the hot season they present only dried-up watercourses. The formation of the coast-line is unfavorable to commercial develop ment, as there are practically no good harbors. Ile chief places of trade, Larnaka and Limasol, have only roadsteads; and Salamis, which was the chief port of antiquity. and Famagosta, which held that position under the Venetians, are only artificial harbors on an open sandy coast. The English early selected Famagosta as the most favorable place to construct a good harbor. The towns in Cyprus worthy of notice are: Lefkosia, commonly called Nicosia, which since the time of the Lusignan kings has been the capital of the island, and which has a popu lation of over 12.500; Fainagosta, on the eastern coast near the ruins of Salamis, important under the Venetians, but now having only a few hun dred inhabitants; Lanarka, on the southeast coast on the site of the ancient Citium, now the chief place of trade, with 7000 or S000 inhabi tants; Limasol, on the southern coast, some dis tance west of the site of Amathus, the chief point for the export of wines; and Bail°, or Papho, on the site of the ancient Paphos, in the southwest. In 1S71 Nicosia was brought into telegraphic communication with the rest of the world by means of a submarine cable to Latakia on the Syrian coast, and this line was subsequently extended to Larnaka; there is also communication by cable with Alexan dria in Egypt. There are several hundred miles of telegraph lines and good roads. The com merce of Cyprus is comparatively unimportant, the average annual value of 1395-99 reaching but $2,735,000, the imports generally exceeding the exports. Among the chief exports are raisins, cocoons, wines, wheat and barley, wool, carobs and flour; the chief imports are cotton and woolen manufactures, tobacco, groceries, rice. alcohol, iron, leather, petroleum, timber, sugar, soap. and cotton manufactures. The sponge fisheries yield products valued at between$100,000 and $150,000 per annum.