North Cyprus is a treasure trove of history and mystery, with historical and scenic attractions around every corner. This time, we will introduce you to one of the most fascinating attractions in this country.
In the city of Kyrenia, between Karaoglanoglu and Alsancak, there is a huge ship that is a reminder of Cyprus’s 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.
The Story of the Ship:
In July 1974, Turkey launched a large-scale military operation to counter Greece’s attempt to declare an independent Greek Cypriot republic in the region. Turkish forces landed on the coast of Yakacık and Karpaz, and after the displacement of people from north to south and from south to north, the war ended with the division of Cyprus along the Green Line under UN supervision and the formation of a Turkish Cypriot self-governing administration in the north.
Built in 1978, this ship was the last of its kind in the Cyprus Peace Operation and remained in service until 2014.
Conversion of the Ship into a Museum:
Due to the ship’s resemblance 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 36-ton pieces and transported from Famagusta Port to AlsANCAK after two months of work.
The museum was inaugurated on 20 July 2021 with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan via video conference.
Built by the Tuzla Shipyard, the ship 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 old and fascinating artifacts, including photographs, documents and films related to the Cyprus War and the Peace Operation. 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 the 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 of North Cyprus
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