GREECE: The Quick FactsGREECE: The Quick Facts INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION THIS SHORT THIS SHORT

PRESENTATION IS PRESENTATION IS INTENDED TO GIVE A INTENDED TO GIVE A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE FEW FACTS ABOUT THE COUNTRY WHERE COUNTRY WHERE CAPTAIN CORELLI’S CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLINMANDOLIN TAKES PLACE. TAKES PLACE. I HOPE IT SERVES YOU I HOPE IT SERVES YOU WELL, AND GOOD LUCK WELL, AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR RESEARCH!WITH YOUR RESEARCH!

GEOGRAPHYGEOGRAPHY Area:Area: 131.990 sq.km 131.990 sq.km Neighbours:Neighbours: Albania, the ex -Yugoslavia Albania, the ex -Yugoslavia

and Bulgaria to the north; Turkey to the and Bulgaria to the north; Turkey to the EastEast

Land useLand use: 23% arable land; 40% meadows : 23% arable land; 40% meadows & pastures; 20% forests; 9% other & pastures; 20% forests; 9% other

Terrain:Terrain: Mostly mountainous Mostly mountainous Climate:Climate: Mediterranean (rainy season is Mediterranean (rainy season is

winter)winter) Main mountain rangeMain mountain range: Pindos (: Pindos (highest highest

peak:peak: Mount Olympus 2,917m) Mount Olympus 2,917m) IslandsIslands: 9,841 islands (only 114 are : 9,841 islands (only 114 are

inhabited; Cephalonia is one of them) inhabited; Cephalonia is one of them) Largest river:Largest river: Aliacmon (297 km) Aliacmon (297 km) Regions:Regions: Ten (Macedonia is the largest Ten (Macedonia is the largest

34,117 sq.km)34,117 sq.km) Main port:Main port: Piraeus Piraeus Capital:Capital: Athens (largest city, as well: Athens (largest city, as well:

3million people)3million people) Time:Time: 2 hours ahead of GMT 2 hours ahead of GMT

FLORA & FAUNAFLORA & FAUNA

Flora: Olive trees, chestnut, fir, pine trees; lots of cultivated and wild flowers like tulips, chamomile, evosmon & peonies

Fauna: Bears, jackals, foxes, wolves, brown squirrel, boars in the wild; Rare white goat raised in Crete; 358 bird species, most are migratory.

Marine fauna: About 246 species; many molluscs, dolphins.

THE PEOPLETHE PEOPLE Population: 10,246,156 (1991

census) Distribution: Male-49.2%,

Female-50.8%; Urban 57.7%, Rural 42.3%

Density: 77.8 inhabitants/ sq.km

Life expectancy: Male-72.2 years, Female- 76.4 years

Religious affiliations: 97.6% are Greek Orthodox

Language: Greek

DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY Government: Parliamentary Government: Parliamentary

Democracy headed by a Democracy headed by a PresidentPresident

Current President: Mr. C. Stefanopoulos (Mr. K. Simitis is the Prime Minister)

International memberships: Member of the UN, IMF, NATO, EU and many others

Education: 4.5% of GDP on education; (compulsory & free for nine years)

Welfare: IKA (for labourers); OGA (for farmers) cover more than 80% of people

ECONOMYECONOMY Per capita GDP: $7,155Per capita GDP: $7,155 Real GDP growth: 1% Unemployment: 10% Current Deficit: About 400 million dollars National Currency: Drachma Exchange rate: 250 drs for 1 dollar