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Country Fact File : Greece
Turtle conservation program in Greece
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighbouring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.
| Location | Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey 37 59 N, 23 44 E |
| Area | 131,940 sq km 50,942 sq miles |
| Climate | Greece generally has mild wet winters and hot dry summers. Winter temperatures can be severe in the mountains and even Athens can get viciously cold. Temperatures on the islands hover around 30°C (87°F) in summer, often higher, but the heat is often tempered by the northerly wind known as the meltemi |
| Terrain | Greece consists of a mountainous and craggy mainland jutting out into the sea at the southern end of the Balkans. The Peloponnesus peninsula and numerous islands (around 3,000), including Crete, Euboea, Lesbos, Chios, the Dodecanese and the Cycladic groups of the Aegean Sea as well as the Ionian Sea islands. Greece has the tenth longest coastline in the world with over 15,000 kilometres; its land boundary is 1,160 kilometres (721 miles). Four-fifths of Greece consists of mountains or hills, making the country one of the most mountainous in Europe. Epiros and Macedonia, in northern Greece, still have extensive forests, but goat grazing, felling and forest fires have seriously denuded the rest of the country. |
| Extreme Elevations | Lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m Highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m |
| Capital | Athens |
| Natural Hazards | Earthquakes |
| Environmental Issues | Air and water pollution, illegal hunting, deforestation. |
| Population | 10,688,058 (July 2006 est.) |
| Ethnic Groups | Greek 98%, Turkish and other 2% (Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece) |
| Religions | Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7% |
| Languages | Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French) |
| Type of Government | Parliamentary Republic |
| Independence Day | 25th March |
| National Holiday: | 25th March |
| Currency | Euro € |
| Time | GMT/UTC +2 |
| Daylight Saving Start | Last Sunday in March |
| Daylight Saving End | Last Sunday in October |
| Electricity | 220V 50 HzHz European plug with two circular metal pins |
| Country Dialling Code | +30 |
| Weights and measures | Metric System |
Did you know?
People lived in Greece more than 5,000 years ago
Mionian civilization appeared in Greece around 3650 BC which predates the 1st Chinese civilization by almost a millennium.
Greece owns the largest fleet in the world
Mount Olympus was considered home of the ancient gods.
Zakynthos was occupied during the 15th and 16th centuries by Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders, French, Venetians and finally the Greeks in 1864.
You must not stare too much at people, animals or objects as you may pass on the Evil Eye.
85% of Greeks own their own accommodation
St Dionysius is the Patron Saint of Zakynthos
1 888 653 6028
Duration and Costs
| Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 Weeks | US$1700 |
| 3 Weeks | US$1900 |
| 4 Weeks | US$2270 |
| 5 Weeks | US$2630 |
| 6 Weeks | US$2980 |
| 7 Weeks | US$3350 |
| 8 Weeks | US$3710 |
| 9 Weeks | US$4070 |
| 10 Weeks | US$4430 |
| 11 Weeks | US$4790 |
| 12 Weeks | US$5150 |
| Group Size |
|---|
| Six to ten volunteers from May to October; fewer needed the rest of the year. |
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