INTRODUCTION TO GREECE

Geography:
Greece,country in southeastern Europe, occupying the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula and numerous islands in the Aegean Sea and Ionian Sea. The total area is 131,957 sq km (50,949 sq mi). Athens is the capital and largest city.

Land and Resources
Greece has a diverse topography with a great variety of vegetation. The central mountain area consists of the Pindus Mountains, which run north to south and are sparsely populated. There is also a damp, mountainous region in the west. Eastern Thessaly (Thessalia), Macedonia, and Thrace have dry, sunny plains and low mountain ranges. Central Greece contains the Athenian plain, Greece's most famous region. The Pelopónnisos peninsula in the south is mountainous with narrow valleys. The islands, most of which are in the Aegean, are high, stony, and dry. Mount Olympus (2917 m/9570 ft), Greece's highest peak, was considered in ancient times to be the home of the gods.

With a typical Mediterranean climate, Greece's lowlands have hot, dry summers and rainy winters. The mountain areas are much cooler, with considerable rain in the summer and snow in the winter. Greece has few natural resources of economic value. Exceptions include significant petroleum and natural gas deposits, located under the Aegean Sea, near the island of Thásos. Deposits of bauxite and iron ore are rich in metal content. Air pollution is a serious environmental problem in Athens, where the smog has pocked and discolored many of Greece's monuments and statues.

Population:
The population of Greece (1997 estimate, 10,616,055) is about 98 percent ethnic Greek and is large in relation to the size and economic capacity of the country. Much poverty exists. Nearly all of the people are followers of the Orthodox Church of Greece. The great majority of Greeks speak Modern Greek. Demotike, the vernacular Modern Greek and language of popular literature, is the official language. English and French are also widely spoken. Education is free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 15.

Economy:
Agriculture plays an important role in the economy, and the leading cash crop is tobacco. Leading manufactured products include food, basic metals and metal products, refined petroleum, and machinery and transportation equipment. Shipping and tourism are also major sources of income. The monetary unit is the drachma (241 drachmas equal U.S.$1; 1996).