Athens Info Guide
 
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  The most complete informaton guide about Athens, Greece

Greece in the EU

 

 

General Information


 


Area of Greece
132.000 kmē
Population in Greece
10,9 milion
Capital
Athens
Capital population
4,2 million people
Language
Greek
Currency
Euro
National holiday
25 March (independence in 1821)
Head of State
President Karolos Papoulias
Prime Minister
Costas Karamanlis
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Dora Bakoyianni

Location: Attica, Greece. Athens is the capital city of Greece in the prefecture of Attica. The name of the city is pretty popular. Apart for the original Athens, 17 other locations use the same name.

Name
State
Location
Population
(in 2000)
Distance from
the original Athens
 
Kilometres
Miles
Athens
Indiana
USA
14.639
8.728
5.423
Athens
Alabama
USA
35.611
9.243
5.744
Athens
Ohio
USA
31.225
8.588
5.336
Athens
Arkansas
USA
507
9.744
6.054
Athens
California
USA
9.101
11.128
6.915
Athens
Georgia
USA
101.489
9.057
5.628
Athens
Illinois
USA
1.726
9.036
5.614
Athens
Louisiana
USA
262
9.813
6.098
Athens
Maine
USA
847
7.391
4.593
Athens
Michigan
USA
2.571
8.597
5.342
Athens
Missouri
USA
1.165
9.110
5.660
Athens
New York
USA
1.695
7.832
4.866
Athens
Ontario
Canada
2.800
7.587
4.714
Athens
Pennsylvania
USA
775
8.035
4.993
Athens
Tennessee
USA
24.431
9.033
5.613
Athens
Texas
USA
21.499
10.034
6.235
Athens
Vermont
USA
340
7.693
4.780
Athens
Virginia
USA
1.102
8.357
5.193
Athens
Wisconsin
USA
1.095
8.674
5.390
Top

Country dialing code: 30. The old Athens code of 010 has been replaced with 210, however, 210 must be dialed even within Athens. All numbers throughout the country now have ten digits, which must all be dialed.

City population: About 3.300.000 (metropolitan area) with vast majority Greek and small minority of other nationalities. The Cathedral of Athens

Religion: 97% Greek Orthodox majority; Protestant, Muslim, Roman Catholic and Jewish minorities.

Time zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two- or three-pin plugs are standard.

Government: Greece is a unicameral parliamentary democracy. The 300-member parliament is elected for a maximum 4-year term by adult suffrage. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party. The President, elected by the parliament, is Head of State and is elected for a 5-year term but has no executive powers. Top

Weather: Athens climate is benign. In winter, temperatures seldom go past 0°C (32F) and in summer, temperatures get up to 37°C (99F) or higher. Read more...

Food & drink: Water quality varies from area to area, depending on the source but in most regions is excellent. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat. Read more...

Health care: It always is a good precaution to take out holiday insurance. Refunds for medical treatment are theoretically available from the Greek Social Insurance Foundation on presentation of form E111. Local chemists can diagnose and supply a wide selection of drugs. There often are waiting lists for treatment at public hospitals. Hospital facilities on outlying islands are sometimes sparse, although many ambulances without adequate facilities have air-ambulance backup. If you need a public ambulance, call 166. Read more...

The Greek Flag: The Greek Flag has a cross and 9 horizontal lines. The cross refers to the cross of Agios Andreas (Saint Andrew), patron saint of Patras where the up rise against the Turks began in 1821. The nine horizontal lines come from the number of syllables in the word “E-lef-the-ri-a-i-tha-na-tos” ("Ελευθερία ή Θάνατος"), meaning "Freedom or Dead". Top

The Greek Anthem: The Greek Anthem is based on the "Hymn to the Freedom", a large - 158 strophes - poem written by Dionysios Solomos, a distinguished poet from Zakynthos Island. The poem was inspired by the Greek Revolution of 1821 against the Ottoman Empire. During 1828 the eminent musician from Kerkyra Island, Nicolaos Mantzaros, composed the music for Solomos' Hymn. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the Greek anthem as the longest anthem in the world, at 158 stanzas, however it is usually the first stanza or so presented as the national anthem.

Although King Othon (Otto) decorated both of them for their work (1845 and 1849), he did not think (or, maybe, did not wanted) to replace the Royal Anthem of that time with the Solomos/Mantzaros Hymn. That Anthem was a musical derivative from the German one, with a text glorifying Otto and its dynasty.

After the overthrow of the Othon's dynasty, the new King George I and the Greek establishment decided to neglect the fashion of that time - to use the Royal Anthems also as National - and looked for a clearly Greek work, both with respect to the poetry and the music. The "Hymn to the Freedom" was readily there - extremely popular since the Revolution times, often recited or sung during patriotic meetings and celebrations.

"Eleftheria" - the Freedom - is a female word and also a popular female name in Greece. The Solomos' Eleftheria is not as erotic and earthly as the Delacroix Liberty. It rather reminds an exiled ancient Goddess, which Solomos identifies with Greece itself. A majestic and demanding Goddess, an object of respect and admiration rather than of belief and passion. She has to be imperative, as the poet reviews the whole history of the Greek Revolution, comments on the negative attitude of the Great Forces, describes the pains and the offerings of the rebels, criticizes their dissensions, calls for unanimity and consolidation - always pointing to Eleftheria - the major human value.

The Greek Anthem has been written by a man of 25 years only. The Greeks deeply love and respect their emotionally-youthful Anthem.

The unusual - for an Anthem - 6/4 tempo of the Mantzaros music points clearly to the most manly traditional dance of the Greeks - Tsamiko.

Hymn to the Freedom

I recognize you
by the dreadful edge
of your sword.
I recognize Your face,
forcibly staring at the land.

From the sacred graves
of the slain Greeks
You rise, valiant again.
Hail, Oh Hail, Liberty!


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Greek lakes:
there are 21 natural and 14 artificial lakes in Greece:

Region
Name
Area (kmē)
Area (sq. mile)
Stera Ellada
Trichonis
95,84
37
Makedonia
Volvi
70,353
27,16
Makedonia
Vegoritis
54,311
20,96
Thraki
Bistonis
45,03
17,38
Makedonia
Koronia
42,823
16,53
Makedonia
Mikri Prespa
42,541
16,42
Makedonia
Megali Prespa
39,04
15,07
Makedonia
Kerkini
37,688
14,55
Makedonia
Kastoria
28,655
11,06
Ipiros
Ioanninon (Pamvotida)
19,47
7,51
Stera Ellada
Yliki
19,118
7,38
Makedonia
Doiranis
15,35
5,92
Stera Ellada
Amvrakia
14,477
5,58
Stera Ellada
Lisimachia
13,085
5,05
Makedonia
Petron
12,294
4,74
Top

Greek rivers:

River
Length (km)
Length (miles)
Aliakmon
297
184,5
Acheloos
220
136,7
Pinios (Thessalia)
205
127,3
Evros (**)
204
126,7
Nestos (*)
130
88,7
Strymonas (*)
118
73,3
Thiamis (Kalamas)
115
71,4
Alfios
110
68,6
Arachthos
110
38,3
Enipefs
84
52,2
Evrotas
82
51
Assopos
80
49,7
Louros
80
49,7
Sperchios
80
49,7
Megdovas
78
48,4
Axios (*)
76
47,2
Aoos (*)
70
43,5
Gallikos
70
43,5
Ladonas
70
43,5
Mornos
70
43,5
Pinios (Peloponissos)
70
43,5
* Length on Greek territory
Top

Greek mountains:

Name
Geographical Region
Height (metres)
Height (feet)
Olympos
Makedonia
2.904
9.527
Smolikas
Ipiros
2.631
8.631
Grammos
Ipiros
2.521
8.303
Voras
Makedonia
2.519
8.264
Giona
Sterea Ellada
2.507
8.225
Tymfi (Gamila)
Ipiros
2.499
8.198
Parnassos
Sterea Ellada
2.455
8.054
Idi (Psiloritis)
Kriti
2.454
8.051
Lefka Ori
Kriti
2.454
8.051
Athamanon Ori
Ipiros
2.429
7.969
Vardoussia
Sterea Ellada
2.413
7.916
Taygetos
Peloponissos
2.404
7.887
Kyllini (Ziria)
Peloponissos
2.374
7.788
Aroania
Peloponnisos
2.338
7.670
Varnous
Makedonia
2.329
7.641
Tymfristos
Sterea Ellada
2.312
7.585
Lakmos
Ipiros
2.294
7.526
Ligos
Ipiros
2.249
7.378
Top

  

 
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