<!-- wp:html --><p>A member of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus looks at a map of the buffer zone between the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara, in the divided capital Nicosia on April 26, 2021.</p>
<p class="copyright">ROY ISSA/AFP via Getty Images</p>
<p>The buffer zone was hastily evacuated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.<br />
For the past five decades, it has remained mostly uninhabited.<br />
Read on for a visual tour of the zone that's effectively been frozen in time.</p>
<p>On July 20, 1974, Turkish soldiers invaded the island of Cyprus. The invasion, which the Turks claimed was aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriots from persecution, ended up splitting the island almost exactly in half.</p>
<p>For the past five decades, Cyprus has remained divided between the southern Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has only been recognized by Turkey. The rest of the international community considers Northern Cyprus to be a Turkish-occupied territory, and the Turkish Land Forces maintains a large force on the island. </p>
<p>The dividing line is the United Nations Buffer Zone, which cuts straight through the capital Nicosia and across the rest of the island.</p>
<p>Ranging from 11 feet at its narrowest to 4.6 miles at its widest, the zone was hastily evacuated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. It has remained uninhabited, effectively frozen in time.</p>
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<div class="slide-title">The United Nations Buffer Zone cuts through the entirety of Cyprus.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">The Nicosia International Airport was contained within the zone and has since gone largely unused.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Even the airport's planes were left behind to rot. </div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">A cafe within the airport stands abandoned.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">As does the airport's departure lounge, which is covered in thick layers of dust. </div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Billboards and signs throughout the zone still display ads for products from over 40 years ago.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Residential and shopping districts of Nicosia that fell within the buffer were evacuated.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">And the old residential neighborhoods fell completely into disrepair.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Multiple blocks now stand empty.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">In some cases, people fled the zone so quickly that they didn't even clear tables.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Car dealerships also fell within the buffer zone inside central Nicosia.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Now vintage Toyotas can be found still bearing their import stickers. </div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Former homes also stand empty, surrounded by barbed wire.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">In some cases, the doors of former houses were filled with sand bags and turned into firing positions.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Watchtowers dot the landscape, providing surveillance opportunities along the entire length of the divide.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Over the course of 40 years, Cypriots of both republics have grown accustomed to the UN outposts.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots are barred from entering the buffer zone, so their experience is limited to seeing it from outside.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="slide-title">Within Nicosia, fortified walls run throughout the city prohibiting access.</div>
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<p class="copyright">Neil Hall/REUTERS</p>
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<div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-cyprus-frozen-in-time-border-2014-4">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->
A member of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus looks at a map of the buffer zone between the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Ankara, in the divided capital Nicosia on April 26, 2021.
ROY ISSA/AFP via Getty Images
The buffer zone was hastily evacuated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.
For the past five decades, it has remained mostly uninhabited.
Read on for a visual tour of the zone that’s effectively been frozen in time.
On July 20, 1974, Turkish soldiers invaded the island of Cyprus. The invasion, which the Turks claimed was aimed at protecting Turkish Cypriots from persecution, ended up splitting the island almost exactly in half.
For the past five decades, Cyprus has remained divided between the southern Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which has only been recognized by Turkey. The rest of the international community considers Northern Cyprus to be a Turkish-occupied territory, and the Turkish Land Forces maintains a large force on the island.
The dividing line is the United Nations Buffer Zone, which cuts straight through the capital Nicosia and across the rest of the island.
Ranging from 11 feet at its narrowest to 4.6 miles at its widest, the zone was hastily evacuated during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. It has remained uninhabited, effectively frozen in time.
The United Nations Buffer Zone cuts through the entirety of Cyprus.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
The Nicosia International Airport was contained within the zone and has since gone largely unused.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Even the airport’s planes were left behind to rot.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
A cafe within the airport stands abandoned.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
As does the airport’s departure lounge, which is covered in thick layers of dust.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Billboards and signs throughout the zone still display ads for products from over 40 years ago.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Residential and shopping districts of Nicosia that fell within the buffer were evacuated.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
And the old residential neighborhoods fell completely into disrepair.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Multiple blocks now stand empty.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
In some cases, people fled the zone so quickly that they didn’t even clear tables.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Car dealerships also fell within the buffer zone inside central Nicosia.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Now vintage Toyotas can be found still bearing their import stickers.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Former homes also stand empty, surrounded by barbed wire.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
In some cases, the doors of former houses were filled with sand bags and turned into firing positions.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Watchtowers dot the landscape, providing surveillance opportunities along the entire length of the divide.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Over the course of 40 years, Cypriots of both republics have grown accustomed to the UN outposts.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Both Turkish and Greek Cypriots are barred from entering the buffer zone, so their experience is limited to seeing it from outside.
Neil Hall/REUTERS
Within Nicosia, fortified walls run throughout the city prohibiting access.
