Greece is…

Greece is…

Longitude: 23°42’58’’ E   I   Latitude: 37°58’46’’ N

Elevation above sea level: 42 m

Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic (Greek: Ελληνική Δημοκρατία, Ellīnikī́ Dīmokratía) and known since ancient times as Hellas (Greek: Ελλάς, Ellás), is a country located in southeastern Europe. According to the 2011 census, Greece’s population is around 10.8 million. Athens is the nation’s capital and largest city, followed by Thessaloniki, which is the second largest city and it is commonly referred to as the co-capital.

The modern Greek state, which was established in 1830 following the war of independence from the Ottoman Empire, traces its roots to the civilization of Ancient Greece, which is considered the cradle of all Western civilization. As such, Greece is the birthplace of democracy, Western philosophy, the Olympic Games, Western literature, historiography, political science, major scientific and mathematical principles, and Western drama, including both tragedy and comedy. The cultural and technological achievements of Greece have greatly influenced the world, having been imparted to the East through Alexander the Great’s conquests, and to the West via incorporation into the Roman Empire and the succeeding Byzantine Empire. Furthermore, the Greek Orthodox Church transmitted Greek traditions to the wider Orthodox World while shaping the modern Greek identity. Greece’s rich legacy is also reflected by its 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe and the world.

Greece is a democratic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high quality of life and a very high standard of living. A founding member of the United Nations, Greece was the tenth member to join the European Communities (precursor to the European Union) and has been part of the Eurozone since 2001. It is also a member of numerous other international institutions, including the Council of Europe, NATO, OECD, OSCE and the WTO.

Greece, which is one of the world’s largest shipping powers, has the largest economy in the Balkans, where it is an important regional investor.

Photographs: Nikon D3100: 18-55@18mm