Varosha (Famagusta)

Varosha (Famagusta)

Varosha ( _el. Βαρώσια; _tr. Maraş) is a settlement in the unrecognised Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prior to the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, it was the modern tourist area of the city of Famagusta. For the last three decades, it has been left as a ghost town.

History

In the 1970s, Famagusta was the number one tourist destination in Cyprus. To cater to the increasing number of tourists, many new high-rise buildings and hotels were constructed.

When the Turkish Army gained control of the area during the invasion, they fenced it off and have since refused admittance to anyone except Turkish military and United Nations personnel. The Annan Plan had provided for the return of Varosha to Greek Cypriot control, but this never happened, as the plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters.

As no repairs have been carried out for 34 years, all of the buildings are slowly falling apart. Nature is reclaiming the area, as metal corrodes, windows break, and plants work their roots into the walls and pavements. Sea turtles have been seen nesting on the deserted beaches.

References in pop culture

The town is discussed in Alan Weisman's "The World Without Us" (St. Martin's Press, 2007) as an example of the unstoppably resilient power of nature.

ee also

*List of places with fewer than ten residents
*Prypiat, Ukraine

External links

* [http://groups.msn.com/ReturntoVaroshaFamagustaCyprus/ Return to Varosha]
* [http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/000985.html The Ghost City of Cyprus]


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