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Greece

Greece today

The state system: since 1924 Greece is parliamentary republic.

A member of United Nations, EU, NATO.

Geographical position:

Greece is located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula and the numerous islands, largest of which are Crete, Rhodes, and Lesbos. The islands account for one-fifth of the land area of the country (over 1500 thousand of islands). Greece has borders with Albania, Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia (FYRM), Bulgaria and Turkey; it is washed by Aegean, Ionian, Cretan and Libyan seas. About 4/5 of the whole territory is covered by high mountains with the highest mountain - Olympus (2917 m)

44 % of the land is covered by forests and shrubs.

None more so than Northern Greece and Peloponnesus.

Climate: Climate in Greece is comfortable, Mediterranean with warm damp winter (average temperature in January +10 C, humidity - 75 %) and a hot dry summer (average temperature of July +32C, humidity - 55 %).

The swimming season in Greece is from the middle of May till the end of October.

April and May are the most beautiful months are during spring, when the tree's are in blossom.

This is best time for travel to historical places.

June it is perfect weather for sun-bathing and rest, not too many tourists and the prices are lower. The hottest months are July and August. On the islands and along the coastline, the heat is made tolerable because of the fresh breeze from the sea.

The "velvet" season is in September and October. Temperatures cool, although swimming is still popular.

From April till November weather is cloudless, rains are rare, and in July, August typically sees no rain at all.

Average temperature. Month April May June July August September October November December-March. Air, water

Capital: Athens

Area -132,000 sq.m

Population 10,3 million people (1993), more than 95% are Greeks

64,7% of the population live in cities

More than 7 million of Greeks live abroad.

Official language- Greek

Official religion: the orthodox Christianity, the prior of the Greek Orthodox Church is Archbishop Athenian.

Administrative-territorial division: 13 nomos (prefectures) - Attici, Peloponnesus, nomos in the Central Greece, Thessaly (Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace), islands Aegean and Ionian seas, Crete.

Map of Greece...

The head of the state: president Konstandinos Stephanopoulos

Legislative branch: unicameral parliament.

The National flag consists of 9 strips of two colours - White (a symbol of the world and purity) and blue (a symbol of the sea); 5 strips blue personify 5 oceans; also 9 strips symbolize 9 letters of the Greek word "freedom" since the present flag is authorized after clearing of a Turkish yoke.

The white cross on a blue background is a symbol of Christian republic.

And here is the other version of an origin of a flag of Greece. During the revolution, Greece accepted significant participation of Jacobeans who suggested choosing Teutonic Jacobeans flag (which is similar to French).

Whilst their opponents put forward a cross having deep religious value.

They have reached a compromise.

A cross has been arranged in the left top corner

The nine strips are connected to nine syllables in the slogan of revolutionaries "Freedom or death" (" Eleytheria h Thanatos "). Whilst excluding red, have left only white and blue.

Greece is the industrial-agrarian country. A share in gross national product (1990, %) is in the industries - 18 %, an agriculture - 16 %.

The majority of electric power is produced by heat and power stations.

Farming prevails in the agricultural sector. An important branch of the economy is navigation.

The main ports: Piraeus (Athens), Saloniki.

Greece exports agricultural products, sewing and textile products, and raw materials mainly to Europe. Also a significant part of the economy is born from foreign tourism.

Over 10 million people are taking their holidays in Greece every year.

Peloponnesus