Akrotiri and Dhekelia

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Akrotiri and Dhekelia
(Western and Eastern)
Sovereign Base Areas

Flag of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Coat of Arms of Akrotiri and Dhekelia

(In Detail) (In Detail)

Location within Cyprus
Official language English
Capital Episkopi Cantonment
Leader Peter Pearson
Area 154 square kilometers
Population 7,000 Cypriots; 7,500 British military workers and their families
Currency Great Britain Pound

Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two areas on the island of Cyprus that are used as military bases of the United Kingdom. The bases were kept by the UK after Cyprus changed from being a colony in the British Empire, to being an independent republic. The United Kingdom kept them because of the important location of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea.