Karpaz Peninsula (Cyprus)

Karpaz Peninsula (Cyprus) ... one of the most prominent geographical features of the island of Cyprus. Its farthest extent is Cape Apostolos Andreas, and it's major population centre is the town of Rizokarpaso (Turkish: Dipkarpaz). After 1974, followed the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus and Turkish occupation, the Turkish-Cypriot authorities officially changed its name to Kırpaşa. However, the change of the name is not recognized by the international community because the Turkish Cypriot authorities are authorities of an administration (the TRNC) which is not recognized by any country except Turkey. / The Karpas peninsula is almost totally free from any concentration of industry and people, and is one of the least polluted regions in the European periphery. With pine, cypress and maquis covered hills reaching an altitude of about 1,000 metres, the Karpas is North Cyprus' nature reserve. Escaping the last ice age, the island of Cyprus has managed to retain a substantial amount of biological diversity and the Karpas is home to much of this. The island has many endemic species - plant species number about 1,600 (22 endemic); and there are 26 reptile and amphibian species for most of which the Karpas is the natural home. Not to mention innumerable insects including many species of butterflies. Being also on one of the main migration routes of birds between Eastern Europe and Africa, each year approximately 300 species, amounting to millions of bird,s use this route in early spring. More well-known, about 46 sandy beaches in the Karpas comprise the main nesting ground in the eastern Mediterranean for the endangered Chelonia Mydas and Caretta Caretta sea turtles. In 1992, about 1,500 rare female turtles laid eggs on the shores of North Cyprus. The last colony of European Audouin seagulls nest on the small Klidhes isles at the tip of the Karpas Peninsula in North Cyprus.