ELIA

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Elea, or Elia, is situated on the northern slopes of the western part of the Five Finger mountains, only a mile southeast of Karavas/Alsancak and five miles west of the town of Kyrenia. Elea was always exclusively inhabited by Greek Cypriots. The name means “olive tree” in Greek. However, in 1975 the village’s name was changed by Turkish Cypriots to “Yeşiltepe,” meaning “green hill” in Turkish. 
 
Historical Population

As can be seen from the chart above, the village was always inhabited exclusively by Greek Cypriots. During the first half of the 20th century its population increased substantially from 31 in 1901 to 61 in 1946.

Displacement:

All of the village’s inhabitants were displaced in July 1974, as they fled from the advancing Turkish army. Currently, like the rest of the displaced Greek Cypriots, the Greek Cypriots of Elia are scattered throughout the island’s south. The displaced population of Elia can be estimated to be around 95-100, since its Greek Cypriot population was 94 in 1973.

Current Inhabitants:

Following the displacement of the Greek Cypriot inhabitants of the village in 1974, Elia was repopulated by displaced Turkish Cypriots from Paphos and some families from different parts of Turkey (the majority from Akçaabat and Çarşamba). Over the last twenty years, many European citizens and wealthy Turkish Cypriots from elsewhere in the island’s north have bought property and built summer houses here. The 2006 census puts the de jure population of the village at 290, but during the holiday seasons this number can go up to well over 500.  


 
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