About Greece In the 5th century BC, Greece was a hub of development and went on to become undisputed leaders in the areas of art, architecture, science, mathematics, philosophy, drama, literature and democracy. |
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Greece is made up of the regions of Thrace and Macedonia in the north; Epirus, Thessaly (Thessalia), and Central Greece in the centre; and in the south by the Pelopennisos, a peninsula connected to the rest of the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth. Though 20 percent of the country is made up of islands, which work out to 2,000 islands, only 170 are inhabited. The Aliokmon, measuring 297 km, is the longest river in Greece. The rivers are not navigable and are usually short and dry up in the summer.
While islands constitute about one-fifth of the land, Greece is mainly dominated by mountains and seas. The country occupies the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula.
The eastern, southern and western borders are made up of the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian seas, thus allowing no part of the country to be more than 100 km away from the water.
The flag of Greece consists of horizontal stripes of blue and white placed at equal intervals and they are 9 in number. These 9 strips represent the 9 syllables of the phrase , this phrase means Freedom or Death.
Climate of Greece
The southern and central portions of Greece experience traditional Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. However, northern Greece has continental climate and experiences colder winters. The rainfall also varies from region to region. While areas towards the west of the Pindus Mountains receive more rain than the east, the average annual rainfall in Athens in central Greece is 400 mm. Mountains are subject to snowfalls.
Flora And Fauna of Greece
The vegetation of Greece varies with the elevation of the land. From sea level to an elevation of 1,500 ft, oranges, olives, dates, pomegranates, figs, cotton, and tobacco are grown. The areas with elevations ranging from 400 to 1,500 ft are home to deciduous and evergreen forests consisting of oak, black pine, chestnut, beech, and sumac. Tulips, hyacinths, and laurels are also characteristic of this elevation. Firs and wild flowers such as anemone and cyclamen are found above 4,000 ft, and mosses and lichens above 5,000 ft.
The wildlife of Greece includes boar, European black bear, lynx, jackal, chamois, deer, fox, badger, and weasel. Among the birds are the hawk, pelican, egret, pheasant, partridge, nightingale, turtledove, and stork. Marine life comprises of squid, octopus, cod, bass, whitebait, and red mullet.
People of Greece
Greece is made up of ethnic Greeks who accounts for more than 95 percent of the population. Besides this, there is a significant Turkish minority in western Thrace. Other minorities include Albanians, Roma (Gypsies), Pomaks (Muslim Slavs), Armenians, Macedonian Slavs, and Vlachs. The first language is Modern Greek, which uses the same alphabet that was used for the Greek language spoken in ancient times.
Arts, Culture and Music of Greece
Greek dances include traditional dances such as the hasapiko, the tsamiko, and the kalamatiano that are usually performed at weddings and other celebrations. The refugees from cities of the Ottoman Empire brought with them songs of the urban working class, which had a considerable influence on the development of contemporary Greek popular music, including bouzouki (a Greek stringed instrument) music. Composers such as Manos Khatzidakis and Mikis Theodorakis have done much to popularize Greek music for a wider international audience.
Economy of Greece
Till the 1950s, Greece's economy was governed by agriculture but by the beginning of the 20th century, export division of the country began to grow. And in the first half of the 20th century, the country's income was mainly determined by the exports of agricultural products like tobacco and dried fruit; and by its shipping industry. It is only after the Second World War that the industries began to progress rapidly, aided by foreign investments. Greece became a full member of the European Community (now the European Union, or EU) in 1981. The country engages in free trade with its European partners and also benefits from EU grants and subsidies. Self-employed and by small family-run businesses also contribute to the economy. Besides this, today, the tourism industry also plays a major
role in governing the state of the economy. Greece's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2001 was $117 billion, which amounted to $11,060 per capita.
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