GENERAL INFORMATION ON GREECE
Land & Sea
The mainland of Greece is surrounded by sea on three sides – the Aegean the the east, the Ionian to the west, and the Mediterranean to the south. Greece has nine major provinces. Thrace and Macedonia are in the north. Epirus and Thessaly are in the west and centre of Greece. Sterea Hellas (central Greece) includes Athens. The Peloponnese is separated from Central Greece by the Corinth Canal. The other three regions are the Ionian Islands, the Aegean Islands, and Crete.
About 20 per cent of the area of Greece is made up of some 3000 islands. Some of the islands are very small and about 200 of them are inhabited. The islands have been very important in Greek history, providing trading links, and featuring in many Greek myths. They are divided into four groups. For example, the Cyclades from a rough circle (kyklos in Greek) in the centre of the Aegean Sea. Some Greek islands are isolated, and others, such as Corfu and Rhodes, have become popular tourist resorts.
Every year, around 10 million tourists visit Greece for its sunny climate, its beautiful beaches and its history. Tourism is one of Greece’s most important industries and many thousands of jobs depend on it. Seventy per cent of Greece is mountainous, with some of its mountains reaching over 2000 metres (6500 feet). The highest mountain is Mount Olympus (2917 metres), which the Ancient Greeks believed to be the home of the gods.
Most regions of Greece have a typically Mediterranean Climate, with very hot and dry summers, and mild and wet winters. However, the northern areas and the mountainous areas have a European climate, with much cooler summers, and cold, wet and snowy winters. The average temperature in Athens is 10C in the winter and 35C in summer.
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