I think the real underlying debate is whether we should let go of the ancient arbitrary distinction between 'Europe' and 'Asia' and call the whole thing 'Eurasia', as it should rightly be... but that's a story for another time :3
Cyprus is clearly part of Asia, the continent their closest to is Asia, still don’t get it why people still debate on this, and somehow their in the EU when literally their in Asia
I guess he means that Singapore the country is not one single island but several islands.And was not talking about Singapore island itself (Mainland Singapore)
Bahrain and Singapore are connected by bridges?! I never knew that! I wonder what the budget was for those bridges, considering they must be at least 6000km long?
Google maps won't generate driving directions from India to Pakistan, but you can pretty clearly see that (border security notwithstanding) there's a land route/road connection between Amritsar and Lahore.
Cyprus is actually closer to Greece than any part of Africa. Greece has a small island named Kastellorizo which is 280 km away from Cyprus's nearest point. On the other hand, Egypt's closest point is only 380 km away. See Wikipedia: Cyprus.
I am about to end this whole argument. The UN states Cyprus is in Western Asia. Cyprus declares It's classified as a European Country. And the CIA World Factbook says It's in both continents. However it becomes complicated when you introduce demographics, cultural and country history, political history, and foreign relations. Cyprus is also a member of the Council of Europe, the EU, and other European-only organizations. Main arguments for geographical continental placement becomes arbitrary when countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, and Palau are closer in proximity to different continents then the one they are "classified". So it seems everyone is right! Too late to change Jetpunk's official categorization though.
I am about to start this whole argument again. The EU is totally not an exclusively European organisation. They let in Malta, for goodness' sake! And Malta has been part of Antarctica since three minutes ago when I changed Wikipedia. Quick, go and see how right I am before someone changes it back.
Cyprus is much closer to Asia mainland (Syria/Lebanon). If you want to judge taking Bosphorus strait as reference, then also it falls “well east”.
However, culturally the country is more “Eurocentric”. Moreover in 2004, the country became full time member of European Union suggesting it to be part of Europe.
But since your question is from geographical point of view, the easy answer would be: Cyprus is clearly part of Asia !!!
It's slightly complicated. Tectonically, Europe and Asia are basically one continent and the geographical boundaries we've drawn are pretty arbitrary.
Most of Turkey is within Asia, though a small fraction of Turkish territory is on the European side of the Hellespont channel. The present capital of Turkey, Ankara, is well within Asia and the country is generally considered geographically 'Asian'.
Cyprus has always been considered 'European', but geographically it's much closer to the Asian mainland than the European (in fact I'm pretty sure it's closer to Africa than to Europe). I would personally put it geographically in Asia, due to proximity, but historically it's pretty much always been part of Europe.
Mostly small countries that don't do significant business with the People's Republic of China officially recognize Taiwan, but it's still a much longer list than just Turkey.
I'm pretty sure 19 UN Members plus Vatican City disregard the People's Republic of China and recognize Taiwan. These are mostly Central American Countries, Pacific Island Countries and European Micronations. Still, 20>1.
No it's not. The general divide between Asia and Europe goes between Turkey and Greece. Cyprus is geographically part of Asia. Politicaly and culturewise it's part of Europe, without doubt.
I did get Cyprus (regardless of the debate, if you know it's debated then it's worth trying on any quiz where it MIGHT fit)... and then I forgot Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Doh!
nonsence. Politicaly yes, geographically it's Asia. But the people of Cyprus would of course prefer to be part of Europe also geographically, but they ARE NOT.
Regarding the argument about where Cyprus is located and whether or not it is part of Europe because of its membership
in the European Union. Personally, I believe that if Malta is in Europe then so is Cyprus. However, that it is in the European
Union is not a valid argument. The countries of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, because of their being members of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are all part of the European Union, but they are PHYSICALLY located in the Caribbean!
SInce when was Cyprus not in Europe? This is all recent stuff and I have seen it only here. Everyone else says it is in Europe. The dividing line is Istanbul, and the Ural mountains and river - period. Hate these dumb academic exercises. I have been there, they are Europeans.
Just like Singapore is attached to Malaysia. Doesn't make it less of an island; Although the border island for the bridge/road between Bahrain and Saudiarabia can be argued about :)
Hmm... If you look up "Cyprus is in which continent," it says Europe. Honestly though, I don't really care. I just enter it in any quiz that it could be an answer, Europe or Asia
^ CartoJuggernaut: Hallelujah! Finally someone who makes sense out of this nonsense too. Europe and Asia are one continent geographically, regardless of political and cultural/ ethnic affiliations, so the argument should be moot.
Isn't Singapore linked to Indonesia. If so, it should not be co sidered an island for thr very definition of island is "a portion of land surrounded by sea in all directions".
Well, I agree with CartoJuggernaut, silly Europe thinking it's a separate continent.
I'm interested to know whether you all think Rhodes is a part of Europe or Asia? It's in Greece (at the moment) but clearly closer to the Asian mainland...
I've been to Rhodes but I wouldn't say I've been to Asia. Rhodes is definitely part of Greece. You may be able to see the Turkish coastline from Rhodes City on a clear day but that's it. I mean you can see Asia from the European side of Istanbul, too. I'm not sure where exactly the border of Europe/Asia lies on the water but probably somewhere around the edge of the Agean Sea and the Levantine Sea which places Rhodes in Europe and Cyprus in Asia GEOGRAPHICALLY.
Rhodes is clearly geographically in Asia too, along with many other Greek islands. Just as Lampedusa (Italian island) is in Africa along with Madeira (Portuguese) and the Canary Islands (Spanish).
The entire debate about Cyprus being i Europe or Asia could be easily resolved if the geographical boundaries of the world were respected. Geographically Europe and Asia are ONE Continent, separated because of political and ethnic prejudices. .
IS this for real? Politically and Culturally, Cyprus identifies more with Europe, in terms of geography and its location, it is in Asia. There shouldn't be a big argument. As for northern cyprus, Only Turkey recognizes it and it doesn't receive any international support.
But anyways, Cyprus is in Asia in terms for location, even though in EU, and if it wasn't for greece cyprus wouldn't be in EU
Bad argument. You can say the same about USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc. Cultural, ethnic, racial and political affinities must be separated from geographic realities.
Yeah I think we should have this class of countries for Turkey, Cyprus,Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Egypt maybe or even Indonesia or Papua New Guinea, some countries need not to be considered at one continent but transcontinent
Yes, United States, Chile, France, Egypt, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Cyprus, Spain, Portugal, Indonesia, and Japan are all transcontinental countries and I believe they should be included on the quizzes of every continent they are located on. Panama could also be considered a transcontinental country based on where you draw the border between the Americas.
It is a country. The only issue here is that Taiwan is not only an island, as there is also Taiwan Mainland (currently under occupation of enemy forces).
Because that's just how borders work, Papua is split down the middle, Indo-PNG border - Asia/ Oceania border. There has to be a change somewhere, and PNG are mainly associated and associate themselves as an Oceanian nation.
Then couldn't we say that Colombia is Part of North America or that Panama is part of South America? There is a clear language and cultural barrier established in New Guinea.
Exclusion from the EU does not mean the country is not European. Classification for countries usually derive from demographics as well as cultural, historic, and political history. Not so much geographically however (see Trinidad and Tobago, Iceland, and Palau closest continents). However the EU is not the only European-only organization that Cyprus is included. Like the Council of Europe or the European Court of Human Rights for examples. But Cyprus can go either way.
East Timor lies closer to Australia then the Asian continent but is not included into the Australian continent because of 'cultural reasons.' But when people want to include Cyprus into Europe people start to say "But Cyprus lies closer to the Asian continent even if it is cultural closer to Europe it should be counted as Asian." This is kind of ridiculous and Cyprus should be include into Europe on this site. It is include into Europe by most if not every international organization.
It's not an Island itself, but it's on an Island. Saw the argument on the 'Island Nations of the World' quiz that those countries can't be entirely on islands as they border Malaysia which isn't an answer. But it's a different part of Malaysia which borders mainland Asia. Borneo is an island which contains Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.
My take on the Cyprus topic, which I haven't seen anyone mention and it's a bit disappointing. Cyprus is a country of hellenic background, which is the culture that is literally the cradle of western civilisation and what shaped Europe, and it's always been considered Europe by Europeans, now a bunch of Americans have recently discovered the island on a map and have decided that it belongs to Asia? Whatever, I got all 10 answers.
nearly didn't get all these then I remembered the weird classification of Cyprus as Asian. Turkey is arguable (it's clearly in both Asia and Europe as is Russia). Culturally European and an EU member but some people in North America have decided it must be in Asia. Bizarre
Winter The Cyprus debate is coming....
It wasn't a typo.
Singapore has 2 bridges to Malaysia, it's not that far.
King Fahd Causeway is in total 25 km with a few islands in between.
Singapore to Amritsar
Lahore to Bahrain
Google maps won't generate driving directions from India to Pakistan, but you can pretty clearly see that (border security notwithstanding) there's a land route/road connection between Amritsar and Lahore.
For the purposes of this argument only, you understand
Search Northern Cyprus
However, culturally the country is more “Eurocentric”. Moreover in 2004, the country became full time member of European Union suggesting it to be part of Europe.
But since your question is from geographical point of view, the easy answer would be: Cyprus is clearly part of Asia !!!
Most of Turkey is within Asia, though a small fraction of Turkish territory is on the European side of the Hellespont channel. The present capital of Turkey, Ankara, is well within Asia and the country is generally considered geographically 'Asian'.
Cyprus has always been considered 'European', but geographically it's much closer to the Asian mainland than the European (in fact I'm pretty sure it's closer to Africa than to Europe). I would personally put it geographically in Asia, due to proximity, but historically it's pretty much always been part of Europe.
Even under the Ottoman empire they didn't suddenly turn 'middle eastern' (which the Ottoman empire btw also wasn't).
in the European Union. Personally, I believe that if Malta is in Europe then so is Cyprus. However, that it is in the European
Union is not a valid argument. The countries of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten, because of their being members of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, are all part of the European Union, but they are PHYSICALLY located in the Caribbean!
its attached to saudi arabia!
I'm interested to know whether you all think Rhodes is a part of Europe or Asia? It's in Greece (at the moment) but clearly closer to the Asian mainland...
to be brief on the Cyprus debate...
(in my opinion, Cyprus is European as Cypriots are ethically from Greece or UK, its for debate though...)
But anyways, Cyprus is in Asia in terms for location, even though in EU, and if it wasn't for greece cyprus wouldn't be in EU
Unfortunately though, we are talking about geography. Unless, EU can pull you out a little closer to Greece.
By that logic, Switzerland, Macedonia, Serbia etc. are not in Europe.
Culturally European? Yeah, well, Canada and the USA are culturally European, yet nobody says they're European nations.
All I think is that if Turkey is in Asia, it would be strange to put Cyprus in Europe, as Turkey is rather influential on Cyprus