40 Interesting Facts About Greece

  1. Greece is an ancient country in southern and southeastern Europe. It is located at the junction of Europe, Asia, and Africa
  2. Greece is a predominantly mountainous country. Around 80% area is mountainous, which makes it one of the most mountainous countries in Europe.
  3. More than 90% of Greeks are adherents of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. It is one of the highest (or 2nd highest after Serbia) percentages of this Christian sect in the world.
  4. Greece has the 3rd longest coastline in Europe and one of the longest in the world. Its length is 13,676 km. (Source)
  5. The initial rules for urban waste management originated in ancient Greece around 2,400 years ago. However, the first landfills for rubbish were dug 5,000 years ago in the Greek city of Knossos. (Source)
  6. Ancient Greece is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of western philosophy, literature, drama, democracy, the Olympic Games, the theatre, etc.
  7. Greece became a united country in the 4th Century B.C. under Philip of Macedon. Later, his son Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world and founded the "Hellenistic Period."
  8. Roman Empire annexed Greece in the 2nd Century. It remained part of the Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire in later centuries. Greece gained independence from Ottoman Empire in 1830 (declared in 1821).
  9. The world’s oldest archaeological site is present in Thessaly, Greece. The Theopetra Cave is 135,000 years old. The 23,000 years old wall inside this cave is the world’s oldest known man-made structure. (Source)
  10. Greece is the 7th oldest country in the world and the 2nd oldest in Europe after Georgia. It was founded around 800 BC. (Source)
  11. The Greek drachma is Europe’s oldest currency, initially minted around 650 BC. It was replaced by euro in 2002. (Source)
  12. Greece was the first country in history to default on its debt, which happened in 377 BC. It also suffered one of the worst defaults in history in 2012. (Source)
  13. The Greek national anthem is the world’s longest national anthem by lyrics. There are 158 verses in this anthem. (Source)
  14. There are more than 2,000 islands in Greece. Nearly 170 of these are inhabited. Some Greek islands are close to the Turkish coast.
    Map of Greece (in white) and its neighboring countries
    Few Greek islands are very close to the Turkish coast

  15. Vikos Gorge in northwest Greece is the world’s deepest gorge. The depth of this gorge in the Pindus Mountains is around 3,000 feet. (Source)
  16. Greece has the largest fleet of merchant navy ships in the world. The total worth of its overall fleet is around $100 billion. (Source)
  17. Greece has the 3rd lowest abortion rate in Europe (after Portugal and Austria) and one of the lowest in the world. It is just 5 per 1,000 women. (Source)
  18. The unemployment rate in Greece is 18.1%. It is the 3rd highest rate in Europe after Bosnia and Kosovo. (Source)
  19. Greece is the 3rd biggest exporter of marble in the world. It is just behind Turkey and Italy in marble export. (Source)
  20. The world’s 2nd oldest known cemetery is in Athens, Greece. The Kerameikos was established in 3000 BCE. (Source)
  21. Santorini in Greece is considered one of the best and most visited islands in the world. It is famous for its uniquely beautiful buildings and historical significance. (Source)
    Santorini island in Greece
    Santorini is one of world's most visited islands

  22. Buildings in many islands of Greece are colored blue and white. However, it is not due to the color of the Greek flag. The white color reflects sunlight from building materials. Blue is a readily available color in this region and is used to paint roofs.
  23. On 10th July 1977, the temperature in the Greek capital Athens reached 48 Celsius (118.4 F). It is the highest temperature ever recorded in Europe.
  24. Athens is also the warmest city in Europe. The average maximum temperature in Athens is 30.7 Celsius. (Source)
  25. Athens is the oldest city in Europe, founded in the 5th or 4th Millennium BCE. Chania and Chalcis in Greece are the 3rd and 4th oldest cities in the continent. (Source
  26. Greece is one of the biggest producers and exporters of olive oil. The olive oil produced in Greece is famous for being one of the best in the world. 
  27. Greece is the biggest exporter of preserved fruits and nuts in the world. It exported more than $45 million worth of these products in 2021. (Source)
  28. Around 98% of people in Greece are of Greek ethnicity. It is one of the largest single ethnicities in the world.
  29. Voting is compulsory in Greece for citizens less than 70 years of age. Non-compliance with this law can result in imprisonment.
  30. Greece is one of several countries with compulsory military service for men. The mandatory military service period is one year. (Source)
  31. There are more than 4,000 traditional dances in Greece. These dances are performed during weddings, festivals, holidays, births, name days, etc. (Source)
  32. Greek is the oldest language in Europe, dating back to more than 3,000 years ago. Currently, there are nearly 14 million speakers of this ancient language. (Source)
  33. There are more than 100 archaeological museums in Greece. However, many of them receive a limited number of tourists. (Source)
  34. Dadia Forest National Park in Greece contains three of the four vulture species in Europe. It also protects most of the other birds of prey species in the continent. 
  35. Ikaria in Greece is one of the five blue zones in the world. People in these areas are known to live longer and healthier than in other parts of the world. (Source)
    A village in Ikaria, Greece
    Ikaria is one of the world's 5 blue zones

  36. In Greece, wearing high heels and bringing food and drink is prohibited in ancient sites. The purpose of this ban is to protect these sites from any damage. (Source)
  37. Greece is known as the most sexually active country in the world. (Source)
  38. The Pindus Mountains in Greece are one of the best wildlife destinations in Europe. It is famous due to thousands of plant species and numerous animals. (Source)
  39. In Greece, Name Days celebrations have more importance than actual birthdays. It is a celebration on the day when a person receives a saint’s name.
  40. The evil eye is the most famous and one of the oldest superstitions. It originated in many ancient cultures, including ancient Greece. Several famous Greek philosophers and poets wrote about the harms of evil eye. (Source)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

105+ Unbelievable Facts About Plants

20+ Interesting Facts About Bolivia

45 Interesting Facts About Christianity