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GENERAL INFORMATION ON GREECE

Introduction

Greece is a land of many contrasts: ancient ruins and modern cities wild, snowy mountains and hot, sandy beaches; and islands with different characters and customs.  It lies at the south-eastern tip of Europe, sharing its borders with Albania, former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey.  The population of Greece is about 10.2 million and the land area is 132,000 sq km.  The capital city is Athens which has a population of over three million.  The second largest city is Thessaloniki, in the northern region of Macedonia.  Other major cities include Patras, Volos and Heraklion.  About five million Greeks live outside of Greece, in countries such as the USA, Australia and Canada.

The Hellenic Republic is the official title of Greece, and the country has beena a republic since 1974.  The head of state is the President.  The Greek Parliament consists of one house and has 300 members.  A new parliament is elected every four years by popular vote.  The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister and has the real political power in Greece.

Population:  10,250,000

Land Area: 132,000 sq km

Religion: Greek Orthodox

Language: Greek

Capital: Athens

Currency:  Euro

In Athens ’ Constitution Square, you can see the traditionally dressed guards called Evzones outside Parliament House.

The Greek flag has blue and white stripes and white cross.  The cross represents the Greek Orthodox Church, the white stripes the purity of the struggle for Greek independence, and the blue stripes represent the sea and the sky.

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