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Yeshilirmak is a green valley hidden amongst the hills of the northwest slopes of the Trodoos Mountain in Cyprus, stretching all the way to the sea.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
According to local historians, settlement to this area goes back to the early 19th century. The first inhabitants of the area were two families; the Osman family, who settled in Kurutepe and the Süleyman family who settled in Süleymaniye. These two settlements were later increased to four, extending to Günebakan and Yagmuralan.
The inhabitants are thought to have come from northern Turkey following the inclusion of Cyprus to the Ottoman Empire in 1571.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
It is interesting to note that these four settlements are far away from the shore and are hidden beyond the hills, hardly visible from the sea. The reason for this, is that in these times, pirates were a real threat to all the costal settlements in Cyprus.
Settlement to Yeshilirmak (by sea) began in 1918 by the inhabitants of Kurutepe. The villagers were no longer worried about the pirates, and soon almost all the villagers of Kurutepe moved down to the valley.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
They worked on their land and tried to lead a happy life, only this time the rulers of Cyprus had changed. The Ottoman Empire, having political and economical problems had leased the island of Cyprus to the British Empire. At the end of the First World War, Cyprus became a Sovereign part of the British Empire.
The inhabitants of Yeshilirmak (also known as Dillirga) - an area of 14 villages of whom 10 were Turkish- like all Turkish Cypriots had their share of discrimination and were subjected to political and economical pressure by the authorities, who were mainly selected amongst the Greek Cypriots during the days of the British Empire. This continued during the days of the Cyprus Republic.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
Life was unbearable for some. Especially during the EOKA days of the late 1950s, and during the intercommunial fightings of the 1960s, many left and emigrated to England and Australia. Looking back to 1968, Yeshilirmak was home to a population of around 1,200. During the dark days of Cyprus, 1963 - 1974, the villagers of Yagmuralan, Süleymaniye and Günebakan took refuge in Yeshilirmak. Community spirit was high, to an extend, people were happy. Growing fruit and vegetables and fishing was their main occupation. Yeshilirmak even today,is famous for its Strawberries. What they couln`t sell locally, they exported. Mainly to the UK.
Today the island of Cyprus is divided in to two. There are two separate States. Turkish Cypriots live in the north and formed their own state known as The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots live on the south.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in 1983, after the intervention of Turkey in 1974 to stop the bloodshed, which followed the Coup. The Coup was orchestrated by the Greek Junta, to annexe Cyprus to Greece (Enosis). Fighting broke out between the pro Greek and the Republican Greek Cypriots. Eventually the Republic of Cyprus government was overthrown and the Greeks began a genocide against the Turkish Cypriots, so that Cyprus will be turned in to a Greek island. Under the London and Zurich treaty, Turkey was a guarantor of Cyprus together with Greece and Britain. Turkey intervened in order to maintain peace in the region . As a result the Republic was reinstated except by now the hatred between the two communities was so great, that the only solution was for the two communities to live separately, and this had in fact happened in 1974. In 1976 the leaders of the two communities signed a treaty to this effect.
Today, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is subjected to an economical embargo by the European Union, orchestrated by the Greek Administration of Cyprus. Whilst punishing the Turkish Cypriot Community for demanding equal rights and recognition, Yeshilirmak took it`s share of punishment. Lack of export of their produce and having no jobs and income, the villagers saw the population drop to about 300. Schools were closed down, due to low attendance, as most families left to make a living elsewhere. A lot of families broke up. Comparing to 1968 a huge 75% of them emigrated overseas.
It is estimated that 2,000 people who originated from Yeshilirmak now live in the UK and 1,500 in Australia.
Yeshilirmak is a green valley hidden amongst the hills of the northwest slopes of the Trodoos Mountain in Cyprus, stretching all the way to the sea.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
According to local historians, settlement to this area goes back to the early 19th century. The first inhabitants of the area were two families; the Osman family, who settled in Kurutepe and the Süleyman family who settled in Süleymaniye. These two settlements were later increased to four, extending to Günebakan and Yagmuralan.
The inhabitants are thought to have come from northern Turkey following the inclusion of Cyprus to the Ottoman Empire in 1571.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
It is interesting to note that these four settlements are far away from the shore and are hidden beyond the hills, hardly visible from the sea. The reason for this, is that in these times, pirates were a real threat to all the costal settlements in Cyprus.
Settlement to Yeshilirmak (by sea) began in 1918 by the inhabitants of Kurutepe. The villagers were no longer worried about the pirates, and soon almost all the villagers of Kurutepe moved down to the valley.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
They worked on their land and tried to lead a happy life, only this time the rulers of Cyprus had changed. The Ottoman Empire, having political and economical problems had leased the island of Cyprus to the British Empire. At the end of the First World War, Cyprus became a Sovereign part of the British Empire.
The inhabitants of Yeshilirmak (also known as Dillirga) - an area of 14 villages of whom 10 were Turkish- like all Turkish Cypriots had their share of discrimination and were subjected to political and economical pressure by the authorities, who were mainly selected amongst the Greek Cypriots during the days of the British Empire. This continued during the days of the Cyprus Republic.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
Life was unbearable for some. Especially during the EOKA days of the late 1950s, and during the intercommunial fightings of the 1960s, many left and emigrated to England and Australia. Looking back to 1968, Yeshilirmak was home to a population of around 1,200. During the dark days of Cyprus, 1963 - 1974, the villagers of Yagmuralan, Süleymaniye and Günebakan took refuge in Yeshilirmak. Community spirit was high, to an extend, people were happy. Growing fruit and vegetables and fishing was their main occupation. Yeshilirmak even today,is famous for its Strawberries. What they couln`t sell locally, they exported. Mainly to the UK.
Today the island of Cyprus is divided in to two. There are two separate States. Turkish Cypriots live in the north and formed their own state known as The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots live on the south.
Limnidi (Yeşilırmak), North Cyprus in Limnitis
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus was established in 1983, after the intervention of Turkey in 1974 to stop the bloodshed, which followed the Coup. The Coup was orchestrated by the Greek Junta, to annexe Cyprus to Greece (Enosis). Fighting broke out between the pro Greek and the Republican Greek Cypriots. Eventually the Republic of Cyprus government was overthrown and the Greeks began a genocide against the Turkish Cypriots, so that Cyprus will be turned in to a Greek island. Under the London and Zurich treaty, Turkey was a guarantor of Cyprus together with Greece and Britain. Turkey intervened in order to maintain peace in the region . As a result the Republic was reinstated except by now the hatred between the two communities was so great, that the only solution was for the two communities to live separately, and this had in fact happened in 1974. In 1976 the leaders of the two communities signed a treaty to this effect.
Today, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is subjected to an economical embargo by the European Union, orchestrated by the Greek Administration of Cyprus. Whilst punishing the Turkish Cypriot Community for demanding equal rights and recognition, Yeshilirmak took it`s share of punishment. Lack of export of their produce and having no jobs and income, the villagers saw the population drop to about 300. Schools were closed down, due to low attendance, as most families left to make a living elsewhere. A lot of families broke up. Comparing to 1968 a huge 75% of them emigrated overseas.
It is estimated that 2,000 people who originated from Yeshilirmak now live in the UK and 1,500 in Australia.
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