Rizokarpaso ( []; ) is a town on the Karpas Peninsula in the northeastern part of Cyprus. While nominally part of the Famagusta District of the Republic of Cyprus, it has been under the control of Northern Cyprus since the Turkish invasion of the island in 1974, being administered as part of the İskele District.

Rizokarpaso is one of the largest towns on the peninsula. Soil near the town consists of terra fusca, which is very fertile. Local crops include carob, cotton, tobacco, and grain. The municipality's territory features the Karpaz National Park, home to the Karpass donkey and some of the finest beaches of the island.

The economy is primarily based on agriculture, husbandry, and fisheries. Since 2000, the town has embraced the concept of eco-tourism, and converted old traditional village houses into guesthouses in traditional styles. The area has no industrial plants. The beach is a breeding ground for loggerhead sea turtles, and as such is a center of attention for conservationists. It is also billed in tourist guides as a "spot to watch sunsets". It hosts an annual festival dedicated to sea turtles in August featuring concerts, release of turtle hatchlings, beach clean-ups, and other environmental awareness activities on the beach.

Climate

History

thumb|left|St. Synesius Orthodox church with mosque in background in Dipkarpaz (Rizokarpaso)

The Rizokarpaso area contains some of the earliest inhabited places in the island. These include the ancient cities of Karpasia and Aphendrika. It was the seat of one of the largest Lusignan baronies. According to Stefano Lusignan, the town of Rizokarpaso became a part of the feudal estate of the de Nores family, until James II of Cyprus revoked Gauthier de Nores's rights due to his support of Queen Charlotte, James's opponent.

The town has two churches: St. Synesios and the church of the Holy Trinity. They are examples of the typical Cypriot mixed style, combining features of the late Gothic introduced by the Lusignans with the late Byzantine style of the Orthodox tradition. These are two of the few Christian churches to operate in the northern part of Cyprus, and has allegedly had services stopped by the Turkish Cypriot police.

Demographics

Before 1974, the town was predominantly inhabited by Greek Cypriots. During the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, the peninsula was cut off by Turkish troops, preventing the town's Greek Cypriot inhabitants from fleeing to the south. As a result, with 250 Greek Cypriot inhabitants, Rizokarpaso is the home of the largest Greek population in Northern Cyprus. Between 1974 and 1985, around 2,500 Greek Cypriots left the village.

Politics

The town has a Turkish Cypriot municipality, whose current mayor is Suphi Coşkun from the Republican Turkish Party. Coşkun won the post in 2014, with over 50% of the votes, beating his predecessor, Mehmet Demirci of the National Unity Party.

Culture and tourism

thumb|The [[Golden Beach, Cyprus|Golden Beach at sunset]]

Turkish Cypriot Dipkarpaz Sports Club was founded in 1978; its football team in 2015 played in Cyprus Turkish Football Association (CTFA) K-PET 2nd League. Education in the town includes a primary school and the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Secondary School. The town hosts some small tourist facilities. east lies Golden Beach, a pristine long beach, and the Apostolos Andreas Monastery.

International relations

Twin towns – sister cities

Rizokarpaso is twinned with:

  • Ankara, Turkey (since 1986)
  • Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey (since 1986)
  • Yasamal, Baku, Azerbaijan (since 2005)
  • Ardeşen, Rize, Turkey
  • Tatvan, Bitlis, Turkey

See also

  • Rizokarpaso Primary School
  • Kormakitis

References

  • Photos of Rizokarpaso