Greece (Hellas – Ελλάς) Kampanis High School Γυμνάσιο Καμπάνη

General Information Greece is situated in Southeastern Europe, with an area of 131,957 sq.km. and a population of 10,964,020. Athens is the capital of Greece with a population of 3,192,606. Local time is GMT +2 hours. The Hellenic Republic is a Presidential Parliamentary Democracy. President of the Hellenic Republic: Mr Karolos Papoulias. Prime Minister: Mr Constantinos Karamanlis Parliament: Three hundred elected members with elections held every four years Greece is a member state of E.U. since The currency is euro. The Greek economy adopts the principles of free enterprise and is bound by the regulations of international organisations such as ECOFIN and WTO, of which it is a member. 2 Kampanis High School,

Attractions G reece has an abundance of resources that tourists with ecological and cultural interests will find attractive. The wealth of cultural as well as ecological resources, both biotic and abiotic, constitute a special comparative advantage of the country for those interested in the conservation of cultural diversity, bio- diversity and eco-systems. These resources are marked by their wide variety, rareness and distinctiveness and are found in areas many of which have already been placed under special protection. 3 Kampanis High School,

Climate - Weather G reece has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunshine, mild temperatures and a limited amount of rainfall. Due to the country‘s geographical position, its rugged relief and its distribution between the mainland and the sea, there is great variation in Greece's climate. In summer, the dry hot days are cooled by seasonal winds called the meltemi, while mountainous regions have generally lower temperatures. The winters are mild in lowland areas, with a minimum amount of snow and ice, yet, mountains are usually snow-covered. Moreover, a common phenomenon is the occurrence of different climactic conditions during the same season (for instance, mild heat in coastal areas and cool temperatures in mountainous regions). 4 Kampanis High School,

Tourism G reece is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. The wonderful scenery, its friendly and clean seas, the mild climate, the unique historical heritage, as well as traditional Greek hospitality, are the merits that have made the country an especially attractive destination for visitors and tourists. Moreover, the tourist sector constitutes one of the main sources of Greece’s national wealth, as it contributes annually more than 18% to the G.N.P., creates approximately 700,000 jobs and also plays a decisive role in the development of the periphery. After the success of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games and the completion of the construction of major infrastructure projects, Greece has entered a new promising era. The perfect organisation of above major athletic event, which left an excellent impression with the global community, highlighted the enormous possibilities of the country and proved that Greece has gained the trust of big entrepreneurs on the international market, both in tourism and other areas, and gradually is establishing itself as the ideal choice of destination for the organisation of larger and smaller conventions, international exhibitions, other planned manifestations, as well as major investments within the framework of the tourist industry. 5 Kampanis High School,

Scenery- Greek coasts T he Greek coast has a total length of approximately 16,000 km. Half this length is found around the thousands of Greek islands. While the rest extends along the mainland. What characterises the famous Greek coasts is their unique diversity (beaches stretching over many kilometres, small bays and coves, sandy beaches with dunes, pebbly shores, coastal caves surrounded by steep rocks and with the characteristic dark sand of volcanic soils, coastal wetlands), and their clean and transparent waters that have made them renowned and extremely popular all over the world. In 2006, 404 beaches and 5 marinas in Greece were awarded the “Blue Flag”, a figure that places the country in a top-ranking position among other European countries. The majority of the thousands of Greek coasts are freely accessible and you have the opportunity to discover and enjoy them without the presence of a large number of swimmers. There are also many organised beaches in the country with the necessary infrastructure providing high-quality services (umbrellas, reclining chairs, changing booths, cafes, bar-restaurants etc), where, apart from swimming, you can enjoy water sports (water ski, windsurfing, diving etc) as well as other means of having fun in the water, such as the parasailing for one or two persons, “rings”, “banana”, wakeboard, jet ski etc. All organised beaches also have lifeguard towers ensuring safe swimming in the area. Kampanis High School, 6

N otwithstanding its limited surface area, Greece is endowed with a particularly rich and diversified natural environment as a result of a rare geomorphology, with many striking natural contrasts and areas of great ecological value. The country’s abundant natural gifts –thousands of indented coasts, imposing rocky massifs, caves, gorges, lakes, rivers, biotopes of spectacular beauty and unique natural habitats– coupled with the mild climate, place it among the ideal destinations for ecotourism and alternative forms of tourism. When travelling in Greece, nature-loving tourists are offered the opportunity to: - to wander in aesthetic forests or explore national parks not merely in the mountainous regions of the mainland, but also on certain islands or in the proximity of rivers and lakes - to enjoy the wonderful natural monuments, gorges, caves and waterfalls. - to watch and admire rare bird species nesting or seeking refuge in coastal ecosystems and wetlands (rocky coasts, sandy beaches, sand dunes, river deltas, lakes, marshes, coastal plains, etc) Greek nature - Ecotourism 7 Kampanis High School,

Greek nature - Ecotourism - to study the highly diverse floral life of the Greek countryside - to visit the unique marine parks supported near the islands of Alonissos and Zakynthos, which provide shelter to two protected species, the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus-Monachus) and the Mediterranean green loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) respectively. - to engage in extreme sports (canoe-kayak, rafting, monoraft, hydrospeed, canyoning, mountain biking, etc), activities which have seen a spectacular rise in popularity in recent years - to stay in agrotourist units which are being developed all over the country and afford visitors the opportunity to become familiar with vernacular architecture, cultural and gastronomic tradition, local products, farming activities and the daily life of local inhabitants. Greek nature - Ecotourism 8 Kampanis High School,

Events G reece is a country with a vast wealth of cultural tradition and folklore. Visitors, therefore, have many opportunities to enrich their travels by attending the various cultural or sports events held in every region of the country, to participate in the festivities that often are connected with enchanting customs and get acquainted with unknown but extremely interesting aspects of Greek folklore heritage. 9 Kampanis High School,

Mount Athos Is the centre of Eastern Christian Orthodox Monasticism. With a long history that goes back thousand of years, is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, it is a treasury which houses and guards many artefacts and monuments of religions, national and artistic value. It is also a "workshop" where religions arts and crafts are still practised to this day, and where deep and genuine spirituality is allowed to flourish and bear fruit. As an institution Mount Athos is, and has been, the chief standard bearer of Orthodox Christianity. Politically it is known in Greece as the Autonomous Monastic State of the Holy Mountain. This World Heritage Site is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms a self-governed monastic state within the sovereignty of the Hellenic Republic. Spiritually, Mount Athos comes under the direct jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. 10 Kampanis High School,

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