Editing Morphou

{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Morphou
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = {{native name|el|Μόρφου|italics=no}}<br>{{native name|tr|Güzelyurt, Omorfo}}
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = Municipality
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Morphou orange monument.jpg
| imagesize          = 300
| image_caption      = The symbolic orange monument at the center of Morphou, representing the town's citrus industry
| image_flag         = 
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| pushpin_map        = Cyprus
| pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
| pushpin_map_caption = Morphou in [[Cyprus]].
| pushpin_relief     = y
| pushpin_mapsize    = 300
| subdivision_type   = Country {{nobold|(''[[de jure]]'')}}
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Cyprus}}
| subdivision_type1  = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[Districts of Cyprus|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Nicosia District]]
| subdivision_type2  = Country {{nobold|(''[[de facto]]'')}}
| subdivision_name2  ={{flag|Northern Cyprus}}
| subdivision_type3  = &nbsp;•&nbsp;[[Districts of Northern Cyprus|District]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Güzelyurt District]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Mahmut Özçınar<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.guzelyurtbelediyesi.com/en/mayor.html|title=Mahmut Özçınar - Güzelyurt Belediye Başkanı|trans-title=Mahmut Özçınar - Mayor of Güzelyurt|publisher=TRNC Municipality of Güzelyurt}}</ref>
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| unit_pref          = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
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| population_as_of   = 2019
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{citation|url=https://www.devplan.org/belediyeler/Yerel-Yonetimler-2017-2019.pdf |title=KKTC Yerel Yönetimler Raporu 2019 |trans-title=TRNC Regional Administrations Report 2019 |publisher=TRNC State Planning Organization |date= December 2020 |page=4}}</ref>
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 24070
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| timezone           = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +3
| coordinates        = {{coord|35|11|53|N|32|59|38|E|display=inline,title}}
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| website            = {{URL|https://www.guzelyurtbelediyesi.com/en/|Municipality of Güzelyurt}}
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}}

'''Morphou''' ({{langx|el|Μόρφου}}; {{langx|tr|Güzelyurt}}) is a town in the northwestern part of [[Cyprus]], under the ''[[de facto]]'' control of [[Northern Cyprus]]. Having been a predominantly [[Greek Cypriot]] community before the 1974 [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]], the town is now inhabited by [[Turkish Cypriots]].

With a population of 18,000 people, the town is famous for its oranges, apples, vegetables, grapefruit and melons. A large proportion of the [[citrus fruits]] are exported and the remainder are turned into fruit juice and canned for local consumption and export. Morphou is also famous for its annual Orange Festival, which is a major event lasting two weeks.

==History==
Morphou was founded by [[Sparta]]ns who brought with them the worship of [[Aphrodite]]. In the Middle Ages, the city was referred to as Morphou but also Theomorphou.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://kypros.org/Occupied_Cyprus/morphou/morphou.html|publisher=kypros.org|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref> In the 14th and 15th centuries, Morphou hosted royal ''[[casalia]]'', where the profitable cultivation of sugar took place with the encouragement of the [[Kingdom of Cyprus|kings of Cyprus]].<ref name="coureas">{{cite book |last1=Coureas |first1=Nicholas |editor1-last=Nicolaou-Konnari |editor1-first=Angel |editor2-last=Schabel |editor2-first=Chris |title=Cyprus: Society and Culture 1191-1374 |date=2005 |publisher=BRILL |page=111 |chapter=Economy}}</ref> The Morphou area grew more than half of Cyprus citrus fruits. In 16th and 17th centuries, during Ottoman period, Morphou was famous for its export of linen.<ref>{{cite web|title=''Morphou''|url=http://www.cypnet.co.uk/ncyprus/history/ottoman/index.html|publisher=cypnet.co.uk|access-date=2012-09-01}}</ref>

[[File:Inonu Square Morphou.jpg|thumb|left|İnönü Square]]

Between 1907 and 1948, Morphou was one of the prominent stations of the [[Cyprus Government Railway]].{{cn|date=September 2021}}

In the wake of the [[Cypriot intercommunal violence|intercommunal violence]] called [[Bloody Christmas (1963)|"Bloody Christmas"]], the majority of the Turkish Cypriot population fled the town in January 1964, though one-third remained. As a result of the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]] in 1974, all of the Greek Cypriots of Morphou fled to the south of the island, and Morphou was inhabited by displaced Turkish Cypriots from the south. These people hailed from various villages in the [[Paphos district]] and the town of [[Paphos]], though there were some who came from [[Limassol]] and the villages around it. This turned Morphou into a refugee town.<ref>{{cite web|title=Morphou|url=http://www.prio-cyprus-displacement.net/default.asp?id=334|publisher=PRIO Cyprus Displacement Center|access-date=18 June 2015}}</ref>

The agriculture in Morphou is expected to be boosted via the increase in irrigated farming by the help of the water pipe-line from Turkey.<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/news-311025-finalization-of-water-pipeline-to-northern-cyprus-to-boost-agriculture-economy.html Today's Zaman] Finalization of water pipeline to Northern Cyprus to boost agriculture, economy</ref>

===Population===

Before 1974, Morphou was an almost entirely Greek Cypriot community. According to the 1960 population census it was inhabited by 6480 Greek Cypriots, 123 Turkish Cypriots and 32 Maronites.<ref>{{cite web|title=''1960 Census''|url=http://www.peace-cyprus.org/VillagersMeeting/mixedvillagepop.pdf|publisher=peace.org|access-date=2011-10-05}}</ref>

The population of Morphou increased slightly from 2006 to 2011.<ref>[http://nufussayimi.devplan.org/Nufus-nitelikleri-index.html TRNC's 2006 Official Census] TRNC's 2006 Official Census - Table1</ref> In 2019, State Planning Organization of [[Northern Cyprus]] recorded a population of 24,070 for Morphou.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.devplan.org/belediyeler/Yerel-Yonetimler-2017-2019.pdf |title=KKTC Yerel Yönetimler Raporu 2019 |trans-title=TRNC Regional Administrations Report 2019 |publisher=Northern Cyprus State Planning Organization |date= December 2020 |page=4}}</ref> 

==Mahalle==
'''İsmet Paşa''', '''Lala Mustafa Paşa''' and '''Piyale Paşa''' are quarters (''[[mahalle]]'')<ref>{{cite web|title=K.K.T.C. POSTA DAİRESİ|trans-title=TRNC Postal Department|url=http://www.posta.gov.ct.tr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=8SyyJ3rwqeI%3d&tabid=8099&language=en-US|access-date=9 November 2014|language=tr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024005008/http://posta.gov.ct.tr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=8SyyJ3rwqeI=&tabid=8099&language=en-US|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> of Morphou.

==Education==
In 2005, a Turkish state university, [[Middle East Technical University]], opened its Northern Cyprus campus in Morphou, after the invitation of the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot governments in 2000.

In 2016, another university called [https://kstu.edu.tr/ Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University] was established as a private university in the center of Morphou (Güzelyurt) City.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
Morphou is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
== Culture ==
The town is known for the annual Morphou Orange Festival, which has been organized by the municipality since 1977.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sanat ve Kültür|url=http://160.75.2.170/index.php/tr/kktc-hakkinda/sanat-kultur|publisher=Istanbul Technical University|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref> The festival features local and Turkish singers and bands (the 2015 festival included many bands and singers including [[Model (band)|Model]], [[Pinhani]] and [[SOS (Turkish Cypriot band)|SOS]]), modern and Latin dance shows, plays, fashion shows, traditional music and dance shows, sports competitions in several fields including football and darts and acrobatic shows.<ref>{{cite web|title=38. Güzelyurt Portakal Festivali|url=http://www.guzelyurtfestival.org/images/2015/dergi/|publisher=Morphou Orange Festival|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref> Along with the festival, the town annually hosts an Open Golf Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|title=Festival golfcüler yarıştı|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/41/news/166715/PageName/SPOR|publisher=[[Kıbrıs Postası]]|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref> 

The town is home to two museums: the Icon Museum at the St Mamas Church and the Morphou History of Natural History and Archaeology. The latter is home to several specimens of native species that lived in Cyprus in different periods, as well as antiquities from the Neolithic Age to the Byzantine period. The St Mamas Church still annually hosts a Greek Cypriot liturgy. Bandabuliya (the closed market) is an important commercial center and was built in the 1930s in the British colonial architecture.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aciman|first1=Stella|title=Güzelyurt'ta Bir Gün|url=http://www.yeniduzen.com/Ekler/adres-kibris/129/guzelyurt-ta-bir-gun/823|publisher=[[Yeni Düzen]]|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr|date=26 October 2013}}</ref>

The town is the home of [[Binatlı Yılmaz S.K.]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Kulüp Bilgileri|url=http://www.ktff.net/BilgiBankasi/KulupDetayi/14|publisher=Cyprus Turkish Football Federation|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref> a football club that spent the 2014-15 season in the [[KTFF 1. Lig]], the second highest division. They finished the season in the third place and achieved promotion into the [[Süper Lig (Northern Cyprus)|Süper Lig]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Binatlı'da kutlamalar sürüyor|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/41/news/164930/PageName/SPOR|publisher=Kıbrıs Postası|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref> The town is also home to [[Baf Ülkü Yurdu S.K.]], which will play in the 1. Lig in the 2015-16 season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Müthiş takas|url=http://www.kibrispostasi.com/index.php/cat/41/news/166238/PageName/SPOR|publisher=Kıbrıs Postası|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref>

The municipality also runs the Morphou City Theater, a theatrical group that regularly puts on performances. The Morphou Theater Days are organized annually with the participation of the City Theater and other theaters from Northern Cyprus and Turkey. The organization reached 5000 viewers in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=Güzelyurt Belediyesi Şehir Tiyatrosu|url=http://www.guzelyurtbelediyesi.com/component/content/article/39-tiyatro/122-%C5%9Fehir-tiyatrosu.html|publisher=Morphou Municipality|access-date=6 July 2015|language=tr}}</ref>

==Church==
[[File:Guzelyurt church 01.jpg|thumb|The St Mamas Church]]

It contains one of the many [[church (building)|churches]] in the country dedicated to St. [[Mammes of Caesarea|Mamas]], popularly believed to have lived as a hermit in a cave near Morphou. According to local legend, he was a [[hermit]] living in very poor circumstances and when the authorities tried to [[tax]] him, he evaded them. Soldiers were sent out and captured him but on the way back to town, he saw a [[lion]] attacking a lamb, escaped the soldiers, saved the lamb, jumped on the lion's back and in that way came to town. His bravery earned him exemption from tax, hence his traditional attribute.<ref name="nostos">{{cite web|url=http://www.nostos.com/church/Mamas.htm|publisher=nostos.com|title=''Saint Mamas''|access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://northerncyprus.cc/default.asp?iID=LIDFJ|title=''St. Mamas Monastery''|publisher=Northern Cyprus.cc|access-date=2010-12-29|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215640/http://northerncyprus.cc/default.asp?iID=LIDFJ|archive-date=2011-07-06}}</ref>

The church is now an [[icon]] museum.

==Notable people==

* Saint [[Philoumenos (Hasapis) of Jacob's Well]]

==Climate==
Morphou has a borderline [[Mediterranean climate]]/[[semi-arid climate]] as the rest of the island where summers are hot and dry, and winters are cool and wet.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=110541&cityname=Morphou- Climate Summary for Morphou]</ref>
{{Weather box |metric first= Yes |single line= Yes |location= Morphou
|Jan high C= 16
|Feb high C= 16
|Mar high C= 17
|Apr high C= 21
|May high C= 26
|Jun high C= 28
|Jul high C= 31
|Aug high C= 32
|Sep high C= 30
|Oct high C= 26
|Nov high C= 22
|Dec high C= 18
|Jan low C= 7
|Feb low C= 7
|Mar low C= 8
|Apr low C= 11
|May low C= 15
|Jun low C= 19
|Jul low C= 21
|Aug low C= 22
|Sep low C= 19
|Oct low C= 15
|Nov low C= 12
|Dec low C= 9
|Jan rain days= 6
|Feb rain days= 5
|Mar rain days= 4
|Apr rain days= 2
|May rain days= 1
|Jun rain days= 0
|Jul rain days= 0
|Aug rain days= 0
|Sep rain days= 1
|Oct rain days= 2
|Nov rain days= 3
|Dec rain days= 8
|Jan precipitation mm = 73.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 60.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 60.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 17.7
|May precipitation mm = 10.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 5.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 27.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 38.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 109.2
|Jan humidity = 72
|Feb humidity = 70
|Mar humidity = 69
|Apr humidity = 73
|May humidity = 70
|Jun humidity = 70
|Jul humidity = 69
|Aug humidity = 69
|Sep humidity = 70
|Oct humidity = 69
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 73
|source 1= Weatherbase <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=110541&refer=&units=us&cityname=Morphou-Cyprus|title=Morphou, Cyprus Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)}}</ref>
|date= May 2011
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Municipalities of Northern Cyprus}}
{{Güzelyurt District}}
{{Municipalities of Cyprus}}
{{Nicosia District}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Morphou| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Güzelyurt District]]
[[Category:Municipalities in Nicosia District]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Northern Cyprus]]