Strategic location - Crossroad of Three Continents
Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean, lies at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia. In addition, Cyprus is close to the busy shipping and air routes linking Europe with the Arab world and the Far East, representing a strategic hub for business activities in the region. Its total area is 9.251 sq. km (3.572 sq. miles), comparable in size to that of Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Connecticut in the USA, the Land of Hessen in Germany, and Dordogne in France. The island is two hours ahead of Greenwich meantime, seven hours ahead of New York, seven hours behind Tokyo, and in the same time zone as Athens.