Coordinates: 39 00 Β, 22 00 Α Greece is situated in the Southeast corner of Europe and covers an area of 131.957 sq. km
Its population is 10.939.771 (2001) (of which 60,8% urban and 39.2% rural -- 49,12% male and 50,88% female)
Highest mountain: Olympus, 2.917 m. Its capital is Athens Local time: GMT +2 hours
CLIMATE
Greece has a Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunlight, mild temperatures and limited rainfall.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Regime: Presidential Parliamentary Republic
President of the Hellenic Republic: Mr Karolos Papoulias (since 12 March 2005)
Prime Minister: Mr Georgios Papandreou (since 5 October 2009)
Parliament: 300 MP's, elected every 4 years
Currency: Euro (340,75 drachmas) (since 01.01.2002)
REGIONS
13 Peripheries and the Monastic State of Agion Oros (Athos) (a self-governed region)
51 Prefectures
901 Municipalities and 130 Communes
RELIGION
Christian Orthodox: 98%
Muslim: 1,3%
Other: 0,7%
OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
1st January: New Year
6th January: Epiphany
10th March: Ash Monday
25th March: National Holiday (Independence Day / Feast of Annunciation)
25th April: Good Friday
27th April: Holy Easter
28th April: Easter Monday
1st May: Labour Day
16th June: Whit Monday
15th August: Dormition (Assumption) of The Virgin Mary
28th October: National Holiday
25th December: Christmas
26th December: Induction of The Virgin Mary
TRANSPORTATION
Greece has 37 airports. Athens Venizelos International Airport, inaugurated March 2001, is the largest in the country connecting with 157 countries and accommodating 16 million passengers annually.
Greece also has 525 ports, the largest being that of Piraeus.
