North Cyprus is a treasure trove of history and mystery, with historical monuments and stunning landscapes around every corner. This time, we will introduce you to one of the most interesting sights of this country.
In the town of Kyrenia, between the villages of Oğlanoğlu and Alsancak, there is a huge ship that reminds us of Cyprus’ turbulent history. This giant ship was once part of the Turkish Navy and is now a museum that tells the story of peace and reconciliation.
Ship story:
In July 1974, Turkey launched a large-scale military operation to counter Greece’s attempt to declare an independent Greek Cypriot Republic in the area. Turkish troops landed on the coast of Yakajik and Karpaz, and after people were displaced from north to south and from south to north, the war ended with the partition of Cyprus along the Green Line under UN supervision and the formation of an autonomous Turkish Cypriot administration in the north.
Built in 1978, this ship was the last of its kind in the Cyprus peace process and remained in service until 2014.
Converting the ship into a museum:
Due to the ship’s similarity to the ships used in the 1974 war, it was decided to convert it into a museum.
The 280-ton ship was divided into 19 pieces, each weighing 36 tons, and transported from Famagusta Port to AlsANCAK after two months of work.
The museum was opened on July 20, 2021 with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan via video conference.
The ship was built in the Tuzla shipyard, and is 56.56 meters long, 11.58 meters wide, and has a displacement of 300,589 tons. Visitors can explore the deck, engine room and other parts of the ship.
Inside the museum, you can see ancient and fascinating artifacts, including photos, documents and films related to the Cyprus War and the peace process. Next to the ship, there is also a memorial helicopter, one of the helicopters used in the landing operation. It entered the Turkish army in April 1968 and was assigned to the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974. This helicopter is one of 72 helicopters that participated in the operation.
Next to the helicopter, on the wall, there is a bas-relief of this war, which is worth seeing.
This ship and helicopter museum is one of the most attractive historical attractions in North Cyprus
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