Greek Geography
Explore the populations, climates, and landscapes of Greece.
Geographical Statistics of Greece
Greece is a Southern European nation bordering the Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean Seas. It is a peninsular country, possessing a large archipelago of over 2,000 sizable islands, though the number is more like 8,000 total. Of these, about 170 are inhabited. Its mainland shares borders with Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey. The total land area of Greece is about 50,443 square miles or 130,647 square kilometers. Among its major cities are its capital, Athens (approx. population 3.156 million) and Thessaloniki (811,000). Overall, the nation’s population is estimated at 10,761,523.
Landscapes and Climate of Greece
Greece is a rocky, mountainous nation dotted by fertile lowland plains. Its tallest peaks are Mt. Olympus and Smolikas. Greece possesses a Mediterranean climate, seeing long, warm summers and mild winters. The nation does experience cooler climates up in the mountains and near its northern borders. Its largest islands are Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, and Rhodes. Warmer, low-lying regions tend to see flora such as cypress, oak, olive, poplar, strawberry, and plane trees. These transition into more alpine fir and pine forests in the mountains. Greece is home to countless seabirds and marine life, as well as land animals like bears, wolves, wildcats, goats, deer, and foxes.
References
Clogg, Richard. A Concise History of Greece. Cambridge University Press. 2013.
Doumanis, Nicholas. A History of Greece. Macmillan. 2009.
“Fauna in Greece: Birds, Wild and Domestic Animals.” Greeka, Greeka, www.greeka.com/greece-holiday/nature/fauna/.
“Flora in Greece: Forests, Trees and Flowers.” Greeka, Greeka, www.greeka.com/greece-holiday/nature/flora/.
Leontis, Artemis. Culture and Customs of Greece. ABC-CLIO. 2009.
“The World Factbook: Greece.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 14 Aug. 2018, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gr.html.
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