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| {{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| |name = Morphou | |name = Morphou | ||
| |official_name = |
|official_name = Güzelyurt/Omorfo (]) Μόρφου (]) | ||
| |native_name = | |native_name = | ||
| |nickname = | |nickname = | ||
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| '''Morphou''' ({{Lang- |
'''Morphou''' ({{Lang-tr|Omorfo/Güzelyurt}}); ({{Lang-el|Μόρφου/Morfou)}}, is a town in the north-western part of ]. Internationally considered as ] of the ] since the ] in 1974, it is under the control of the ], recognised only by ]. | ||
| Morphou was founded by ]ns who brought with them the worship of ]. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/morphou/morphou.html|publisher=kypros.org|accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref> The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for it's export of linen.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/ottoman/index.html|publisher=cypnet.co.uk|accessdate=2012-09-01}}</ref> | Morphou was founded by ]ns who brought with them the worship of ]. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/morphou/morphou.html|publisher=kypros.org|accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref> The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for it's export of linen.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/ottoman/index.html|publisher=cypnet.co.uk|accessdate=2012-09-01}}</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:20, 13 September 2013
Place| Morphou | |
|---|---|
| Güzelyurt/Omorfo (Turkish) Μόρφου (Greek) | |
 | |
| Status | Internationally recognised as Republic of Cyprus occupied territory, currently controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is recognised only by Turkey. |
| Country | De jure  Cyprus De facto  Northern Cyprus |
| District | De jure Nicosia District De facto Güzelyurt District |
| Population | |
| • Total | 18,946 |
| Time zone | EET |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 |
Morphou (Template:Lang-tr); (Template:Lang-el, is a town in the north-western part of Cyprus. Internationally considered as occupied territory of the Republic of Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, it is under the control of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey.
Morphou was founded by Spartans who brought with them the worship of Aphrodite. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou. The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for it's export of linen.
It contains one of the many churches in the country dedicated to St. Mamas, popularly believed to have lived as a hermit in a cave near Morphou. According to local legend, he was a hermit living in very poor circumstances and when the authorities tried to tax him, he evaded them. Soldiers were sent out and captured him but on the way back to town, he saw a lion attacking a lamb, escaped the soldiers, saved the lamb, jumped on the lion's back and in that way came to town. His bravery earned him exemption from tax, hence his traditional attribute.
Before 1974, Morphou was an almost entirely Greek Cypriot community. According to the 1960 population census it was inhabited by 6480 Greeks Cypriots, 123 Turkish Cypriots and 32 Maronites. Between 1907 and 1948, Morphou was one of the prominent stations of the Cyprus Government Railway.
As a result of the Turkish invasion in 1974, the whole of its Greek Cypriot population was forced to leave their homes and properties and flee to the areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. The land left by the Greek Cypriots was given to Turkish Cypriot refugees from the south (mainly refugees from Paphos) and soldiers from Turkey. Given the bad economy and infrastructure of the town; the new trend is the majority of Turkish Cypriots moving to other places in the north part of Cyprus(mainly Nicosia and Kyrenia).
North-South crossing
Morphou is home to one of the islands crossing points, which was opened to civilian use in 2003. It is located at Zodeia to the southeast of the town.
The crossing is used by vehicles, and passport/Id checks are done at both sides when crossing. The road goes through the U.N buffer zone, before entering the opposite side of the border, which was set up to prevent any further attacks between the two communities.
Modern era
With a population of 12,000 people, the town is famous for its apples, vegetables, grapefruit and melons for which a large proportion of the citrus fruits are exported and the remainder are turned into fruit juice and canned for local consumption and export. Morphou is also famous for its annual Orange Festival, which is a major event lasting two weeks.
The church is an icon museum now.
Education
In 2005, a Turkish state university, Middle East Technical University, has opened its Northern Cyprus Campus to Morphou after invitation of Turkish and TRNC Governments in 2000.
Climate
Morphou has a borderline Mediterranean climate/semi-arid climate as the rest of the island where summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and wet. The Köppen Climate Classification System abbreviates the climate description as Csa.
| Climate data for Morphou | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16 (61) |
16 (61) |
17 (63) |
21 (70) |
26 (79) |
28 (82) |
31 (88) |
32 (90) |
30 (86) |
26 (79) |
22 (72) |
18 (64) |
24 (75) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7 (45) |
7 (45) |
8 (46) |
11 (52) |
15 (59) |
19 (66) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
19 (66) |
15 (59) |
12 (54) |
9 (48) |
14 (57) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 73.6 (2.90) |
60.9 (2.40) |
60.9 (2.40) |
17.7 (0.70) |
10.2 (0.40) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
5.1 (0.20) |
27.9 (1.10) |
38.1 (1.50) |
109.2 (4.30) |
403.6 (15.9) |
| Average rainy days | 6 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 32 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 72 | 70 | 69 | 73 | 70 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 69 | 72 | 73 | 71 |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Gallery
-
St Mamas, the lamb and the lion: altar painting in the church at Morphou
References
- "Morphou". kypros.org. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- "Morphou". cypnet.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
- "Saint Mamas". nostos.com. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- "St. Mamas Monastery". Northern Cyprus.cc. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- "1960 Census" (PDF). peace.org. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- "Morphou". kypros.org. Retrieved 2010-12-29.
- Climate Summary for Morphou
- http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=110541&refer=&units=us&cityname=Morphou-Cyprus
External links
| Municipalities of Cyprus | |
|---|---|
| Nicosia District | |
| Limassol District | |
| Larnaca District | |
| Famagusta District | |
| Paphos District | |
| Kyrenia District | |