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COUNTRY INFO

Greece, officially "HELLENIC REPUBLIC", is a Mediterranean state located 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. Total land boundaries: 1,210 km (747 miles), consisting of Albania 282 km (174mi), Bulgaria 494 km (305 mi), Turkey 206 km (127 mi), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 228 km (141 mi.) And the total coastline measures 13,676 km (8,442 mi.)

With a total area of 131,957 sq.km. (50,880 sq.mi.), its strategic location dominates the Aegean Sea and the southern approach to the Turkish straights.

Total land area is 130, 800 sq.km. (50,471 sq.mi.)

Capital City: Athens

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ATHENS

Athens (Greece), city in southeastern Greece, capital and largest city of the country. Situated on the Attic plain on the Greek mainland, it is surrounded by mountains on three sides, the most important of which are Párnis, Pendéli, and Hymettos (Imittós). Two minor streams, the Kifisós River in the west and the Ilisós River in the east, flow through the city. With its port, Piraeus (Pireás), which is located about 8 km (about 5 mi) to the southwest on the Gulf of Saronikós (an inlet of the Aegean Sea), it forms a unified metropolitan region. Athens dominates the economic, cultural, and political life of Greece. In 1996 the population of the greater city area was 3,100,000.

Athens, the capital and largest city of Greece, was founded in the 9th century BC.

The Greek War of Independence (1821-1829) liberated the city from Ottoman rule and made it the capital of modern Greece. Athens was largely rebuilt during the reign (1832-1862) of King Otto by German architects, notably Eduard Schaubert. Before its emergence as a major European commercial and industrial center in the 20th century, it was important mainly as a tourist center celebrated for its ancient monuments. The city now suffers from modern problems, such as urban sprawl and air pollution. Construction of a subway to help alleviate traffic congestion began in 1991, but has

been delayed periodically due to concern over possible damage to the city's ancient monuments. In 1997 the International Olympic Committee chose Athens, the site of the first Olympic Games in 1896, as the host of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Many buildings from antiquity still stand in the modern city. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built in the 2nd century BC by Greek scholar Herodes Atticus. It lies on the southwest slope of the Acropolis.

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TOPOLOGY

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.

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.

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.

Land use
23% arable land; 40% meadows and pastures; 20% forests and woodland; 9% other.

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.

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BRIEF HISTORY

Greece has a history stretching back almost 4,000 years. The people of the mainland, called Hellenes, organized great naval and military expeditions, and explored the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, going as far as the Atlantic Ocean and the Caucasus Mountains. One of those expeditions, the siege of Troy, is narrated in the first great European literary work, Homer's Iliad. Numerous Greek settlements were founded throughout the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and the coast of North Africa as a result of travels in search of new markets.

During the Classical period (5th century B.C.), Greece was composed of city-states, the largest being Athens, followed by Sparta and Thebes. A fierce spirit of independence and love of freedom enabled the Greeks to defeat the Persians in battles which are famous in the history of civilization-Marathon, Thermopylae, Salamis and Plataea.

In the second half of the 4th century B.C., the Greeks, led by Alexander the Great, conquered most of the then known world and sought to hellenize it.

In 146 B.C. Greece fell to the Romans. In 330 A.D. Emperor Constantine moved the Capital of the Roman Empire to Constantinople, founding the Eastern Roman Empire which was renamed Byzantine Empire or Byzantium for short, by western historians in the 19th century. Byzantium transformed the linguistic heritage of Ancient Greece into a vehicle for the new Christian civilization.

The Byzantine Empire fell to the Turks in 1453 and the Greeks remained under the Ottoman yoke for nearly 400 years. During this time their language, their religion and their sense of identity remained strong.

On March 25, 1821, the Greeks revolted against the Turks, and by 1828 they had won their independence. As the new state comprised only a tiny fraction of the country, the struggle for the liberation of all the lands inhabited by Greeks continued. In 1864, the Ionian islands were added to Greece; in 1881 parts of Epirus and Thessaly. Crete, the islands of the Eastern Aegean and Macedonia were added in 1913 and Western Thrace in 1919. After World War II the Dodecanese islands were also returned to Greece.

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POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Greece, also known as Hellas, is the birthplace of politics as an art and democracy as a form of government. Its democratic ideals inspired, among others, the framers of the US constitution. The present Greek Constitution, voted in 1975 and amended in 1986, defines the country's political system as a Parliamentary Democracy headed by a President.

Legislative powers are exercised by a single Chamber Parliament (the Vouli) and executive powers are vested in the Government and the President. Prime Minister, whose Government must enjoy the confidence of the House, has extensive powers. The judiciary is independent. Civil, political and human rights are constitutionally guaranteed. General elections for the 300 parliamentary seats are held every four years. The President of the Republic is elected by MP's and serves for a five year term, renewable only once.

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CURRENCY & ECONOMICS

The currency unit is the Drachma. Drachmae may be obtained at any Greek bank. The rate of exchange fluctuates a bit from day to day. Railroad stations, airports, and most travel agencies and hotels also offer exchange services.

Currency regulations
Importation of foreign currency, gold and gold coins is free and unlimited. Banknotes more that $ 1000 (U.S.) must be declared at customs.

Economy

Greece's prime agriculture products include wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes, beef and dairy products.

Export commodities include manufactured goods, food and beverages, and petroleum products to either Germany, Italy, UK, or the USA.

Import commodities include manufactured goods, foodstuffs, fuels, and chemicals to either Italy, Germany, France, or the UK.

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STANDARD TIME

2 hours ahead of GMT in winter. 3 hours ahead of GMT in summer.

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.

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