Çamlıköy Lefke (Cyprus) | |
---|---|
Çamlıköy Lefke (Turkish); Chamli Keuy Lefka (English) | |
![]() Orange monument in Lefka town center, representing its rich orange groves | |
Country | de jure ![]() de facto ![]() |
District | de jure Nicosia District de facto Güzelyurt District |
Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 255 |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Çamlıköy is a village in Northern Cyprus, located on the northern foothills of the Troodos mountains, 4 km south of Gemikonağı Coast and only 2 km east of the Lefka Town Centre.
Due to intercommunal wars between 1963 and 1974, and the village’s inclusion in the Turkish Cypriot enclave of Lefka a stronghold of the Turkish Cypriot Fighter force, Çamlıköy became a reception center for displaced Turkish Cypriots from nearby villages such as Peristerona, Petra (Taşköy) Ay Nikolas, Fugasa, Peristeronlar (Cengizköy) and Agios Georgios (Madenliköy) in the Solea/Solya region.
During the British Administration of Cyprus, a railway line was built between Famagusta and Lefka in 1905. At the same time several kilometers east of Lefke's Central Business District, in an uninhabited area on the southeastern outskirts of Çamlıköy a railway station was also built. The station functioned as a place of exchange of services, goods and post office for the district of Lefke.
During this period, many businesses opened around the station and a new residential estate was also established in the surrounding area. While Turkish Cypriots named this new neighborhood İstasyon simple meaning 'Station'; Greek Cypriots called it Kalo Chorio Lefkas meaning Lefka's good village . When Çamlıköy Train Station was closed most of the businessmen moved to the CBD of Lefka. The remaining a few left to the south of Cyprus during the 1974 war.
Since the Cyprus Mines Corporations at Lefke ceased its operations in 1970's, many people from the region migrated to cities or abroad.
Lefka is a town in Northern Cyprus, overlooking Morphou Bay. It is located in the Nicosia District, under the control of the Güzelyurt District of the self declared state of Northern Cyprus which is recognized only by Turkey.
During the Venetian period in Cyprus, Lefka was dominated by Catholics of Italian descent.
Turks migrated to Lefka during Ottoman rule. The town is the site of the European University of Lefke.
It is also the residence of Sheikh Nazim al-Qubrusi, spiritual head of the Haqqani branch of the Naqshbandi Sufi order.
Asil Nadir and Nil Burak were born in Lefka.
Places of interest
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Lefke_hurma.jpg/170px-Lefke_hurma.jpg)
- Soli - Ancient city founded in the 600s BC.
- Vouni Palace - On a cliff top 9 kilometres (6 miles) west of Gemikonagi, and 250 metres (820 feet) above sea level.
- Tomb of Piri Osman Pasha
- Storehouse from the British Period
- European University of Lefke
- Visiting Sheikh Nazim
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Lefka is twinned with:
References
- ^ KKTC 2011 Nüfus ve Konut Sayımı (PDF), TRNC State Planning Organization, 6 August 2013
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Bergama - Twin Towns". © Bergama-City.sk. Retrieved 2013-10-19.
- ^ "Malatya - Twin Towns". © Malatya-City.sk. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ^ "Silifke - Twin Towns". © Silifke-City.sk. Retrieved 2013-10-20.
- ^ "Lefke Belediyesi Kardeş Şehir". © Elmadağ-City.sk. Retrieved 2013-10-20.