What You Need To Know About Greece

Greece is a beautiful country steeped in a rich tradition of art and culture. It is situated in the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is surrounded by the Ionian Sea in the west, the Mediterranean Sea in the south, the Aegean Sea in the east, Turkey and Bulgaria in the northeast, Macedonia in the north, and Albania in the northwest. Athens is the capital of Greece. It is also the largest city in Greece. Greece has a number of small islands as a part of it.  A large part of Greece is of a mountainous terrain. It has a temperate climate with mild wet winters and warm dry summers. Greece has a few rivers but none of those can be navigated.

Greece has been a democratic republic since 1975. It has a population of 10.06 million. Greek is the official language. Many people also speak English and French. There is a small Turkish speaking community.  A majority of the citizens are Christians.

The Greeks have had an agriculture-based economy for very long. The chief crops grown are corn, wheat, barley, olives, tomatoes, sugar beets, grapes, cotton, tobacco, and potatoes. Sheep and goats are all reared. However, industry is now the main source of income for the country. The main industries are food processing, tobacco, textiles, chemicals, metal products, construction materials and petroleum refining. Tourism also adds to the revenue. Fishing is a profitable industry in the coastal areas. Hydroelectric and thermal power stations are the main source of power.

Greece has a presidential parliamentary system of government. The parliament elects a president for a five-year term. The executive is made up of a premier and a cabinet. The country has 13 administrative regions, which are further divided into 52 departments or nomoi, which are responsible for the local governance.

Tourism is a thriving industry in Greece.  Tourists from all over the world flock to Greece attracted by its rich history and culture.