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 |
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.
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.
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".
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! |
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 |
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
|
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 |
|
|