The document summarizes the history and current state of the United Nations buffer zone in Cyprus following the Turkish invasion in 1974. It has divided the island between the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north. The buffer zone, which cuts through the capital Nicosia, was hastily evacuated during the invasion and has remained uninhabited since, with buildings and infrastructure frozen in time. Photos depict abandoned homes, businesses, vehicles and Nicosia International Airport left in 1974 when the zone was established.

1. Haunting Photos Of Cyprus’s
Frozen-In-Time Contested Zone

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

19. Advertising billboards are seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia

20. Immigration counters are seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia

21. A Cyprus Airways passenger jet stands in the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near
Nicosia

22. A sign is seen through barbed wire at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia

23. A view shows the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia

24. A cafe sign is seen at the abandoned Nicosia International Airport near Nicosia March

25. Bottles stand next to a sink in an abandoned cafe in the United Nations buffer zone in central
Nicosia

26. A firing position protected by sandbags is seen at a former residential property in the United
Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia

27. The kitchen of an cafe lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia

28. Photographic slides found and collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial area
in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia

29. Objects found and collected by soldiers are seen in an abandoned commercial area in the
United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia

30. Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottles stand on a table at an abandoned cafe in the United Nations buffer
zone in central Nicosia

31. A street lies abandoned in the United Nations buffer zone in central Nicosia

32. An illuminated flag of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognized
only by Turkey, is seen overlooking Nicosia