It consists of mainland Greece (Attica, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia, Thrace) and the Islands.Geographically it belongs to Europe since it forms the most southerly extremity of the Balkan peninsula but it also has a special link with Europe through the small entity of the Ionian Islands (Zante, Ithaca, Corfu, Cephallonia, Lefkas and Paxi) which form a chain off Greece's western shores in the Ionian Sea.The Saronic Gulf which is the stretch of sea linking the shores of
Attica to those of the Peloponnese, contains a further group of
small islands (Salamis, Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses) which
adds its variety to the general surroundings.There are the numerous islands of the Aegean Sea,
some isolated like Crete to the South, Ikaria, Chios and Lesbos to
the East, Thassos and Samothraki to the North. The Cyclades
consist of 39 islands of which 24 are inhabited, the more important
ones being Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Delos, Ios, Kea,
Kimolos, Folegandros, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Santorini
(also called Thera), Serifos, Sikinos, Sifnos, Syros, Tinos.
The Dodecanese group consists of twelve major islands, Astipalea,
Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kassos, Kastelorizo, Kos, Lipsos, Leros,
Nissiros, Patmos, Rhodos, Symi and a number of smaller islands,
each with its distinctive features and peculiarities.The Sporades, consisting of Alonissos, Skiathos, Skopelos and
Skyros, lie of the eastern shores of mainland Greece and retain
their genuine island characteristics and unchanged local traditions.Variety is, in fact, the hallmark of the Greek geographical
landscape generally. On the one hand, there are high mountains
and entire mountain ranges such as the Pindos range (also known
as Greece's backbone) or Mount Olympus (with its summit the
Pantheon, the highest peak in Greece at an altitude of 2,917
meters) and the mountains of Macedonia and Thrace intersected
here and there by a few valleys through which relatively small
rivers flow. On the other hand, the endless lacework of the
coastline produces a series of scenic surprises. It is these heavily
indented shores which give Greece such rare beauty, quite unique
in the Mediterranean. The length of the Greek coastline is estimated at 15,000 kilometers. The marked variety of the terrain above water continues under water, along the seabed which, millions of years ago, formed a projection of the land. Close to Cape Tainaron, (Tenaro) off the South tip of the Peloponnese, the
so-called Oinousai (Inousses) Pit is 4,850 meters deep which is the deepest point in the Mediterranean.Vegetation and climate conform with the variations in the
geographical area. The variety of plants is exceptional. Some 6,000
indigenous species having so far been recorded, 250 of which
flourish on the island of Crete. It is an impressive figure due to
Greece's geographical position between Europe and Africa.
Plants associated with the joys of life are the country's countless
vineyards. Major vegetation is likewise peculiar and above all
made to man's measures. The trees are of medium height and
vary from pine, oak, fir, olive and mulberry trees to fruit and palm
trees. Another result of the country's geographical location is also
seen in its climatic range with mild winters and sub-tropically warm
summers cooled by a system of seasonal breezes popularly called
"meltemia".
Lastly, an outstanding feature of the Greek climate is its ample sunshine.
It is no exaggeration to state the sun shines in Greece for 3,000
hours per year.
