2. Frozen in Time - The Cyprus Buffer Zone
On July 20, 1974, Turkish soldiers invaded the island of Cyprus. The invasion, which the Turks
claimed was aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriots from persecution, ended up splitting the island
almost exactly in half.
For the past 40 years Cyprus has remained divided between the southern Republic of Cyprus
and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has only been recognized by Turkey. The
rest of the international community considers Northern Cyprus to be a Turkish-occupied
territory, and the Turkish Army maintains a large force on the island.
The dividing line is the United Nations Buffer Zone, which cuts straight through the capital
Nicosia and across the rest of the island.
Ranging from 11 feet at its narrowest to 4.6 miles at its widest, the zone was hastily evacuated
during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. It has remained uninhabited, effectively frozen in time
3. A former residential property stands abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central
Nicosia March
4. Images of airplanes decorate a wall at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia
March 10, 2014. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have lived estranged for decades. A power-sharing
government crumbled soon after independence from Britain in 1960 and the island has been
divided since a Greek Cypriot coup was followed by a Turkish invasion of the north in 1974
5. The passenger departure area is seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near
Nicosia March 10, 2014. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have lived estranged for decades
6. A warning sign is seen on a wall marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone in the
Turkish Cypriot area of central Nicosia
7. A sign marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone stands in the district of
Famagusta, northern Cyprus
8. Cars sit abandoned in a former shopping centre in the United Nations buffer zone in central
Nicosia. The cars were imported from Japan to be sold at a Toyota dealership. They were stored
here during the 1974 conflict and have not been moved since.
9. A mural showing the Greek and Cypriot flags is painted on a wall in the Greek Cypriot-controlled
area of central Nicosia
10. A watchtower stands along the United Nations buffer zone in the district of Famagusta, northern
Cyprus
11. A former commercial street is seen in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia
12. A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near
Nicosia
13. A military post marking the United Nations buffer zone stands in the Greek Cypriot-controlled
area of central Nicosia
14. A view shows the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia
15. A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near
Nicosia
16. A former residential street lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia
17. Old televisions found and collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial area in the
United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia
18. A sign marking the boundary of the United Nations buffer zone stands in the village of Pyla in
Cyprus