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Hershel Shanks

The Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are divided by the infamous Green Line—a barbed-wire barrier that crosses the island, running right through the heart of Nicosia. Although tensions between Greek Christians and Turkish Muslims once turned violent, no blood has been shed since the division of the island in 1974. Foreign visitors to the Republic of Cyprus are permitted to cross into northern Cyprus for day trips—first passing through a Turkish checkpoint (see photo of Turkish checkpoint) and later returning through a Greek checkpoint (shown here). No visitors from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are permitted to cross the Green Line into southern Cyprus.