Greece is a country in southeastern Europe consisting of 2 mainland peninsulas and thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. Its capital is Athens. Greece is located in southeast Europe, close to both Africa and Asia.
Facts about Greece
1. The official name of Greece is the Hellenic Republic.
2. In 2011 the population of Greece was around 11 million.
3. The capital and largest city in Greece is Athens. Other major cities include Thessaloniki, Patras and Heraklion.
4. Greek is the official language spoken in Greece. Greece is a member of the European Union and uses the Euro as its currency.
5. Greece is a popular tourist destination and home to over a dozen World Heritage Sites. The highest mountain in Greece is Mount Olympus. Nearly 80% of Greece is mountainous.
6. Thousands of English words come from the Greek language, sometimes via the Roman adaptation into Latin and then to English. Common English words from Greek include “academy,” “apology,” “marathon,” “siren,” “alphabet,” and “typhoon.
7. Greece has over 100 archaeological museums, possibly more than any other country, Greece has a large number of archaeological museums.
8. About 7% of all the marble produced in the world comes from Greece.
9. Greek has been spoken for more than 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in Europe.
10. Greeks do not wave with an open hand. In fact, it is considered an insult to show the palm of the hand with the fingers extended. Greeks wave with the palm closed.
