Welcome to Greece!Greece. A land of sea, sand, and sparkling sea--a place many people call paradise. A land too magical to even be recognized as real because of all the mythology we know about it. A region with tons of history in every corner you walk. I was always a country that I wanted to visit. It had always intrigued me, even in my younger years (you can thank Greek mythology for that). It is such a beautiful country all around. Interested in hiking or skiing? Greece is a very mountainous region and offers a beautiful landscape all throughout the country. I was in awe at the view when we were driving on top of the mountains; amazing. But wait there's more! Are you a party animal? Do you need the sun and the beach? Don't worry, Greece's got you. With the myriad of islands under its control, Greece is known for its gorgeous beaches and crystal clear waters. Coming here was part of the study abroad trip that I took during the Spring of 2015 along with my trip to Italy, and I will never forget any of it. Greece is definitely one of my favorite countries in Europe. Read on to know why!
Land of the gods!Language: Greek.
Currency: Euro. Population: Almost 11 million. Religion: Officially Eastern Orthodox. -Approximately 16.5 million tourists visit Greece each year, more than the country’s entire population. Tourism constitutes nearly 16% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). -No one in Greece can choose to not vote. Voting is required by law for every citizen who is 18 or older. -The world’s third leading producer of olives, the Greeks have cultivated olive trees since ancient times. Some olive trees planted in the thirteenth century are still producing olives. -According to Greek mythology, Athena and Poseidon agreed that whoever gave the city the best gift would become guardian over the city. Though Poseidon gave the gift of water, Athena’s gift of an olive tree was deemed by the other gods to be more valuable. As a result, Athens is named after Athena. -Greece has zero navigable rivers because of the mountainous terrain. Nearly 80% of Greece is mountainous. -Greece has more than 2,000 islands, of which approximately 170 are populated. Greece’s largest island is Crete. -Over 40% of the population lives in the capital Athens (Athina in Greek). Since becoming the capital of modern Greece, its population has risen from 10,000 in 1834 to 3.6 million in 2001. -Greek has been spoken for more than 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in Europe. -A Spartan specialty was a black soup made from salt, vinegar, and blood. No one in the rest of Greece would drink it. -Greece’s official name is the Hellenic Republic. It is also known as Ellas or Ellada. -I LOVE GREECE! Click on a city! |
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