Cyprus is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the third-largest in the Mediterranean, known for its beaches, ancient ruins, and mountainous terrain. It is the site of a long-standing division, with the Republic of Cyprus controlling the southern two-thirds of the island and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) governing the north, separated by a UN buffer zone. The Republic of Cyprus is a member of the European Union and features a Mediterranean climate with a mix of Greek, Turkish, and British cultural influences.