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Greece:
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Other pages in this profile of Greece:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
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 neighboring 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. |
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Location |
Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey |
Geographic coordinates |
39 00 N, 22 00 E |
Map references |
Europe |
Area |
total: 131,940 sq km land: 130,800 sq km water: 1,140 sq km |
Area - comparative |
slightly smaller than Alabama |
Land boundaries |
total: 1,228 km border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km |
Coastline |
13,676 km |
Maritime claims |
territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Climate |
temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers |
Terrain |
mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands |
Elevation extremes |
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m |
Natural resources |
lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential |
Land use |
arable land: 20.45% permanent crops: 8.59% other: 70.96% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
14,530 sq km (2003) |
Natural hazards |
severe earthquakes |
Environment - current issues |
air pollution; water pollution |
Environment - international agreements |
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds |
Geography - note |
strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |