9781422278000

Chapter One GREECE’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

G reece is often considered the cradle of Western civilization. Its forms of government, art, and literature have provided the foundation for the advancements of later nations and cultures. Things such as city-states, Homer’s The Odyssey , and Socrates come to mind when Greece is mentioned. However, it is also a modern country, making use of new technology and providing its people with comfortable living standards. Greece, or the Hellenic Republic as it is officially known, is located on the southern portion of the Balkan Peninsula and also includes the Peloponnesian Peninsula. The present-day country has an area of 50,948 square miles (131,957 square kilometers), roughly the size of the state of Alabama. The Terrain: Coastlines to Mountains Since Greece is located on the Balkan Peninsula, the ocean surrounds it on three sides. The Aegean, Ionian, and Mediterranean seas form 8,498 miles (13,676 kilometers) of coastline stretching around the country. Greece’s land boundary with other nations is only 689 miles (1,110 kilometers) long. This strategic location on the water has ruled the lives of the Greek people for all of its history, aiding in trade, military pursuits, and food transportation. The land that makes up Greece is extremely mountainous. The Pindus Mountains, which stretch from north to south, dominate the center of the peninsula. Much of the land is dry and very rocky, although the west has several lakes, and about 28 percent of the land is suitable for agriculture. Mountains cover over four-fifths of Greece’s land, and much of the terrain is 4,920 feet (1,500 meters) above sea level. The highest mountain in the nation is the famed Mount Olympus, which is 9,570 feet (2,917 meters) high. 11