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 southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

Geographic coordinates: 34 37 N 32 58 E

Map reference: Middle East

Area
Total: 123 km²
Note: includes a salt lake and wetlands
Comparative: about 0.7 times the size of Washington DC

Climate: temperate; Mediterranean with hot dry summers and cool winters

Geography
Note: British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

Population
Note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; note - there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

Environment
Current issues: shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

Country name
Conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
Conventional short form: Akrotiri

Capital: Episkopi; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

Legal system: the laws of the UK where applicable apply

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
Elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description: the flag of the UK is used

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