Greece is located in the southeastern part of Europe and in particular in the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula (or the peninsula of Aimos), in the boundary between Europe, Asia and Africa. Ιt shares land borders with the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Bulgaria to the north, with Albania to the northwest and Turkey to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
Its total area is 131.957 sq. Km., and is divided into three ‘main’ geographical units:
– the mainland (from the region of Central Greece in the south to the region of Thrace in northeastern tip), which is the largest in the country,
– the Peloponnese which is joined to the mainland by the Isthmus of Corinth, and
– the approximately 6.000 larger and smaller islands and islets scattered across the sea area of the country, either alone, or integrated into island complexes, thus setting up unique on the European continent Greek Archipelago. Some of the best known and most popular Greek islands or clusters are Crete, Rhodes, Corfu, the Dodecanese and Cyclades.
80% of the territory of Greece is mountainous or hilly, which makes it one of the most mountainous countries in Europe, while the total length of its coastline is about 16.000km., of which 7.500km. are on the islands of Greek archipelago, which gives a rare geomorphological feature for the whole European continent.
| MAJOR MOUNTAINS OF GREECE |
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| Name |
Geographical Region |
Altitude (meters) |
| Olympos | Macedonia, Thessaly | 2.904 |
| Smolikas | Macedonia | 2.631 |
| Grammos | Macedonia | 2.521 |
| Voras | Macedonia | 2.519 |
| Giona | Central Greece | 2.507 |
| Tymfi (Gamila) | Epirus | 2.499 |
| Parnassos | Central Greece | 2.455 |
| Idi (Psiloritis) | Crete | 2.454 |
| Lefka Mountains | Crete | 2.454 |
| Athamanon Mountains | Epirus | 2.429 |
| Vardoussia | Central Greece | 2.413 |
| Taygetos | Peloponnese | 2.404 |
| Kyllini | Peloponnese | 2.374 |
| Aroania | Peloponnese | 2.338 |
| Varnous | Macedonia | 2.329 |
| Tymfristos | Central Greece | 2.312 |
| Lakmos | Epirus | 2.294 |
| Pindos | Epirus, Thessaly, Macedonia | 2.249 |
| MAJOR LAKES OF GREECE | ||
| Name |
Main Sources | Length (km) |
| Aliakmonas | Grammos | 297 |
| Acheloos | Northern Pindos | 220 |
| Pinios (Thessaly) | Northern Pindos | 205 |
| Evros* | Rila, Bulgaria | 204 (480) |
| Nestos* | Rila, Bulgaria | 130 (243) |
| Strymonas* | Vitosa, Bulgaria | 118 (392) |
| Thiamis (Kalamas) | Dousko | 115 |
| Alfios | Parnonas | 110 |
| Arachthos | Northern Pindos | 110 |
| Enipeas (Thessaly) | Othris | 84 |
| Evrotas | Parnonas | 82 |
| Louros | Tomaros | 80 |
| Sperchios | Tymfristos | 80 |
| Evinos | Vardoussia | 80 |
| Tavropos (Megdovas) | Agrafa | 78 |
| Axios* | Skardos | 76 (380) |
| Aoos* | Lygos, Northern Pindos | 70 (260) |
| Galikos | Kroussia Mountains, Macedonia | 70 |
| Ladonas | Aroania | 70 |
| Mornos | Iti | 70 |
| Pinios (Peloponnese) | Erymanthos | 70 |
| * length of river on Greek territory and in brackets the total length of the river |
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| MAJOR LAKES OF GREECE | ||
| Name |
Geographical Region |
Maximum Length (km) |
| Trichonida | Central Greece | 18,000 |
| Volvi | Macedonia (Thessaloniki) | 20,150 |
| Vegoritida | Macedonia (Florina, Pella) | 14,800 |
| Vistonida | Thrace (Xanthi, Rodopi) | 12,450 |
| Koronia | Macedonia (Thessaloniki) | 10,750 |
| Mikri Prespa | Macedonia (Florina, Albania) | 15,300 |
| Megali Prespa | Macedonia (Florina, Albania, FYROM) | 11,600 |
| Orestiada (Kastoria) | Macedonia (Kastoria) | 7,500 |
| Pamvotida | Epirus (Ioannina) | 7,950 |
| Yliki | Central Greece | 10,825 |
| Doirani | Central Greece | 8,100 |
| Amvrakia | Central Greece | 13,150 |
| Lisimachia | Macedonia (Florina) | 6,238 |
| Petron | Central Greece | 5,250 |
| Paralimni | Macedonia (Florina) | 8,110 |
| Chimaditida | Central Greece | 5,150 |
| Ozeros | Central Greece | 5,200 |
| Voulkaria | Central Greece (Evia) | 4,000 |
| Distos | Central Greece (Evia) | 4,280 |
| Pikrolimni | Macedonia (Kilkis) | 2,425 |
| Stymfalia | Peloponnese | 3,475 |
| MAJOR ARTIFICIAL LAKES OF GREECE | ||
| Neme |
Geographical Region |
Maximum Length (km) |
| Kerkini | Macedonia (Serres) | 44,920 |
| Polifitou | Macedonia (Kozani) | 29,480 |
| Kremaston | Central Greece | 14,490 |
| Kastrakiou | Central Greece | 29,380 |
| Plastira | Thessaly | 13,760 |
| Piniou | Peloponnese | 8,490 |
