All About Greece

Written by: Natalie Yao

Geography and Nature

Greece, officially named the Hellenic Republic, is a peninsula surrounded by tinier islands located in Southern Europe. As a matter of fact, Greece is made up of over 6,000 islands! Yet, only about 200 of them have people living on them. The country is neighbors to four countries to its northern border, Albania, Turkey, Macedonia, and Bulgaria. Greece is also wrapped in multiple bodies of water as it is a peninsula, some of them being the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. It also has the longest coast in all of Europe! The land is divided into three geographical regions which are the Peloponnese, the mainland, and the islands. The mainland is covered in rugged mountains and ranges, leaving little land for large cities. The tallest mountain, Mount Olympus, was thought by Ancient Greeks to be the home of the gods. Some major cities include its capital Athens, Sparta, Oia, Rhodes, and Syracuse. 

The nation is also covered in forests and lakes, which are home to wild animals. Some of these animals include bears, wolves, boars, lynx, goats, and porcupines. Yet, many of these forests have disappeared therefore endangering the lives of these animals. Now, many of these creatures live in the protected national parks like Mount Olympus National Park and Vikos National Park. There is also a great effort to protect their marine life with animals such as the loggerhead turtle, monk seal, seahorses, anemones, and sea stars. 

People and Culture

The official language of the nation is Greek, with 90 percent of the population being Ethnic Greek. The majority of the population are Greek Orthodox, a branch of Christianity. Greece is also home to the Olympics. The first games were held over 2000 years ago and happened in the city of Olympia every four years. Yet, it was abolished a couple hundred years after that, until it was brought back in 1896 in Athens.

Greek cuisine utilizes local ingredients, and it is thought that it is the reason for their long lives. Some of these ingredients include olive oil, lamb, fish, olives, fruits, squid, vegetables, and chickpeas.

Some dishes include:

• Souvlaki - grilled meat skewers served with pita bread

• Moussaka - a casserole with layers of eggplant, spiced meat, and béchamel sauce

• Pastitsio - baked pasta with ground meat and béchamel sauce

• Baklava - a pastry made of layers of phyllo, topped with honey and nuts

National Symbols

• National Animal: the Dolphin

• National Colors: Blue and White

• National Flower: Bear’s Breech

• National Tree: the olive tree

• National Bird: the Little Owl