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Home | Country Information | Getting There | Activities and Sport | Map of Greece |
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Country Information : The Geography 
Location: Mediterranean state at the tip of the
Balkan Peninsula, in southeastern Europe, bordering Turkey to the
east; Albania, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
(FYROM) to the north; and surrounded by the Ionian and the Aegean
seas. Note: Strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea
and the southern approach to the Turkish straights. Area:Total Area:131,957 sq.km. (50,880 sq.mi.) Land Area: 130, 800 sq.km. (50,471 sq.mi.) Terrain: Some 80% of the mainland is mountainous
with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands.
Approximately 3,000 islands account for 19% of Greece's area.
Cultivated land covers about 30% of the country's total area. Land Boundaries: Total 1,210 km (747 miles),
Albania 282 km (174mi), Bulgaria 494 km (305 mi), Turkey 206 km (127
mi), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 228 km (141 mi.) Coastline: 13,676 km (8,442 mi.) Climate: Temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry
summers and mild, wet winters. Spring is hot and autumn long and
warm.. The lowest temperatures are recorded between December and
February, and the highest in July and August. In general, Greece
enjoys over 250 days of sunshine annually. Natural Resources: Bauxite, lignite, magnesite,
petroleum, marble. Land use: 23% arable land; 40% meadows and
pastures; 20% forests and woodland; 9% other. Topography: Greece, the southernmost extremity of
the Balkan peninsula, is a mountainous, stony country with a highly
indented and crenelated coast. According to a Greek myth, when god
created the world he distributed all the available soil through a
sieve and when he had provided every country with enough of it he
tossed the remaining stones from the sieve over his shoulder-and there
was Greece.More that two thirds of the country is classified as hilly
and mountainous. The Pindos range traverses the Greek mainland from
N.W. to S.E. dividing it in two. the Greek mainland coastline is 4,000
km long while 9,841 islands, 114 of which are inhabited, add another
11,000 km of coastline.Greece is divided into ten regions of which Macedonia is the largest with an area of 34,177 sq. km and a population of 2,263,099. the highest Greek mountain is Mount Olympus (2,917 m.), believed to be the seat of the 12 Gods of ancient Greek mythology. The largest river is Aliacmon (297 km.). The largest city and capital is Athens, with a population of over 4m. Piraeus is the main port. The second largest city, Thessaloniki, capital of Macedonia, with a population of nearly 1 m, is an important seaport functioning as the gateway to the Balkans and a major economic and cultural centre for the whole of northern Greece. Time: 2 hours ahead of GMT in winter. 3 hours ahead
of GMT in summer. Flora: Trees include white poplars, spearheaded
cypresses, chestnut, pine, fir and olive trees. Of special beauty are
the cultivated and wild flowers of Greece, many of which are mentioned
in classical poetry and mythology, such as evosmon, anemone, violets,
tulips, peonies, narcissus, parthenium, primrose and chamomile. Fauna: Wild animals include boar, bear, wild cat,
brown squirrel, jackal,fox,deer,wolf.A rare goat is found in Crete. A
number of 358 species of birds are found throughout Greece, two-thirds
of which are migratory. Among the birds of prey are the golden and
imperial eagle, and several species of falcons. Other indigenous
varieties of birds are the owl, pelican, pheasant, partridge, woodcock
and nightingale. Marine Fauna: Some 246 species of marine life have
been identified in Greek seas. Among the best known one species such
as red mullet, lobster, squid, octopus, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel
and cockle. River fish are rate. Dolphins, so familiar in the legends
and sculpture of antiquity, are still present in the Greek seas. |