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| Contents |
• Introduction
• Geography
- Central
Greece
- North-Eastern
Greece
- Eastern
Greece
- Southern
Greece
- Western
Greece
- The
Greek Islands
•
Government
• The Greek People
• Nature
• Economy
• Cultural Life
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Geography |
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Central Greece
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the heart of Greece lies the oracle of Antiquity, Delphi. Running
through central Greece is the rugged Pindus mountain range,
with a peak of 2.637m (Mt. Smolikas). The dramatic mountain
gorges and villages of Epirus rise above the plain of Thessaly,
an agricultural heartland bordered by the Byzantine-era monasteries
of Meteora. |
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North-
Eastern Greece |
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The
port city of Thessaloniki,
and the mountains and river plains of the north, have played
a critical role in the history of South Eastern Europe. The
Chalkidiki Peninsula is home to Mt. Athos (the Holy Mountain),
a monastic state governed by the Greek Orthodox Church.
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| Eastern
Greece |
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plain of Attica (Attiki) was the site of Europe's first
cities. Today, Attica supports nearly half the Greek population.
The lush peninsula of Pelion is a land of cascading streams
and beaches fringed by forests, and is topped by Mt. Pelion.
The best known of eastern Greece's many mountains is Mt.
Olympus (Olympos), fabled home of the ancient gods, which
rises to 2,917m. |
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| Southern
Greece |
The
Peloponnese (Peloponissos) gave rise to many great cities of the ancient
world, including Mycenae, Sparta, and Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic
Games. A fertile region with a temperate climate, the Peloponnese
is ideal for cultivating olives and vineyards. Southern Mani is renowned
for its fiercely independent locals and stark landscapes.
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| Western
Greece |
Western
Greece's lakes and wetlands are vital to migratory birds and other
endangered species. The Ionian islands have long been a commercial
and cultural bridge between Greece and western Europe. |
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| The
Greek Islands |
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The
2000 islands of
the archipelago share much common history and culture, but each
has its own individual character. To the east of the mainland
lie the northern Aegean islands and the Sporades. Further south,
are the Dodecanese. and Crete (Kriti), the fifth largest island
in the Mediterranean. The rocky Cyclades gave birth to ancient
Cycladic civilization while the islands of the Saronic Gulf
have a great seafaring tradition.
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