Population and territory

About 75% of Greece is mountainous and only 20% of the land is arable. The country is divided into four main geographical regions:

Northern Greece, including the historic area of ​​Epirus, Macedonia and Thrace and part of Mount Pindos (which extends to Central Greece), the low plains along the rivers Nestos and Struma and the peninsula of Khalkidhiki, which is Thessaloniki, the second largest city, by extension, of Greece.

Central Greece, situated north of the Gulf of Corinth, includes the low-lying plains of Thessaly, Attica and Boeotia, Mount Olympus (with its height of 2,917 meters is the highest point of Greece) and Athens.

Southern Greece, formed by the extended Peloponnese.

The fourth region of Greece is represented by the numerous islands of Greece (with a total area of ​​approximately 9,600 square meters), the most important of which are Crete, the southernmost in the Mediterranean, the Ionian islands (Corfu, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Lefkada , Ithaca, Paxi and Antipaxoi, Kythira and Antikythira), the Cyclades (Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Naxos, Paros, Antiparos, Syros, Folegandros, Amorgos, Ios, Sikinos, Kimolos, Milos, Serifos, Sifnos, Anafi, Tinos, Andros , Kythnos and Kea); Small Cyclades (Koufonissi, Ano Koufonissi, Donoussa, Schinoussa, Iraq, Keros); settentionali the Sporades (Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros), the Dodecanese (Rhodes, Lesbos, Kos, Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos, Samos, Nisyros, Tilos, Halki, Limnos, Kastelorizo, Karpatos, Kassos, Symi, Astypalea, Tilos, Halki, Agathonisi and Alimnia). Both the Aegean Sea, but few rivers on the islands, none of which waterways.

The Greek population only partly descended from the ancient Greeks, having mingled for centuries with the invaders from the Balkans. The modern greek is the official language. There is a small Turkish-speaking minority, and many Greeks also speak English and French. The greek Orthodox Church is the town's main church and the Orthodox religion is the official one for the vast majority of the population. The primate is the archbishop of Athens, greek, who recognizes the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. There are small minorities in Muslim and Christian-Catholic.

Government and Economy

The greek government is governed by the Constitution of 1975 and subsequent amendments. The President, who is the head of state, is elected by the legislature for a term of five years and is eligible for a second term. The Prime Minister, who is the head of the government, is appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament, as well as the Cabinet of Ministers. The 300 members of the unicameral Parliament are elected by the people for four years. Administratively the country is divided into 51 prefectures and one autonomous region (Mount Athos).

The Greek economy, historically agricultural, Greece has recently seen industry replace agriculture as the main source of income. Agriculture accounts for 5% of gross domestic product, while the industry about 20%. Tourism, the growing service sector, a vital source of income. The main agricultural products are wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives and olive oil, tomatoes, wine, tobacco and potatoes. A large number of sheep and goats are raised. The country's main industrial centers are Athens, Thessaloniki, Pireas, Patras and Iraklion.

The principal industries are tourism, agricultural processing, mining, petroleum refining and the manufacture of textiles, chemicals and metal products. The main minerals produced are lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite and marble.

Electricity is generated mainly by hydroelectric and thermal. Greece has a large merchant fleet, and its main ports are Piraeus and Thessaloniki. There is also the fishing industry of significant importance especially in coastal areas. The main commodity exported products are food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals and textile imports main machinery, transport equipment, fuels and chemicals.
Greece's main trading partners are Germany, Italy and France.