Did you know that Athens was a small town two centuries ago? Did you know that the Greek islands are about 2,000? That no part of the country is further than 137 kilometers from the sea. The Greek fleet reach 70% of all European commercial ships? Read some more interesting facts about Greece below.
By Vassilios Canellos
Twelve million people worldwide speak Greek. They include, of course, the ten million Greeks, Cypriots and Greek-speaking people in Italy, Albania, Turkey, the US and other countries. The Greek language has been spoken for nearly 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in the world.
The Greek islands are about 2,000, but only 170 are inhabited. The largest Greek island, Crete, covers an area of 8,260 square kilometers.
Athens has been inhabited continuously for 7,000 years. This makes it one of Europe's oldest cities.
On average, the Greek citizens, enjoy 250 days of sunshine a year. This equates to 3,000 enviable hours of sun per year.
Life expectancy in ancient Greece was 36 years for women and 45 years for men. From all the new born children, only half were able to survive beyond the infancy stage. Today, life expectancy has reached 77 and 82 years for Greeks
Ships with Greek flag is the 70% of Europe's total merchant fleet. Domestic law requires that the 75% of the crew must be of Greek nationality.
Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world - which is not surprising of course.
About 100,000 birds from northern Europe and Asia are overwintering in the Greek area.
Slaves in ancient Greece were up to 40-80% of the population in the city-states. They were mostly prisoners of war, abandoned children or children from enslaved parents.
The country's enviable wildlife includes 116 species of mammals, 18 species of amphibians, 59 species of reptiles, 240 species of birds and 107 species of fish. Unfortunately, about half of all mammal species are endangered.
No part of Greece is further than 137 kilometers from the sea. The country's coastline is the tenth largest in length on the planet.
Greece was once a rocky mass, completely below the sea in the prehistoric times. After the collision of the tectonic plate with Europe, its mountainous terrain was formed, and even today the earthquakes in the Aegean are related to the movements of this particular lithospheric plate.
In the 1950s, only 30% of Greeks were literate.
Greece is now the first in Europe to produce aluminum for thousands of applications.
Greece is the largest bauxite producer country in the European Union. Bauxite is also used in the manufacture of aircraft, electrical appliances, steel structures and others.
Greece is the only EU country with significant nickel deposits in its subsoil. There is a nickel production plant, the largest in the European Union, but exports overseas.
Vassilios Canellos is a hospitality professional with more than 20 years of experience in Leading Hotels. During this time, he has coached and mentored emerging talents, shared knowledge with his teams and spoken at Hotel industry events. Recently he participated in the Food & Beverage Diploma of IST College as a guest lecturer. He has a strong background in all aspects of Food & Beverage, detailed knowledge and understanding in all factors of HACCP & ISO 22000. Read more on his website www.canellos.eualert-info
By Vassilios Canellos
Approximately 18.2 million tourists arrive in Greece each year. This means that the foreign visitors outnumber the local population
About 7% of all marble produced on the planet comes from Greece.
Greece is the third country in the world in olive production. The cultivation of olive trees has started since ancient times. Some olive trees planted in the 13th century, still produce olives.
It is also the first country in the world in natural sponge trading.
80% of the country's territory is mountainous. The country does not even have a sailing river because of this particular geomorphology.
About 7% of all marble produced on the planet comes from Greece.
Greece is the third country in the world in olive production. The cultivation of olive trees has started since ancient times. Some olive trees planted in the 13th century, still produce olives.
It is also the first country in the world in natural sponge trading.
80% of the country's territory is mountainous. The country does not even have a sailing river because of this particular geomorphology.
Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean sea.
Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek
Twelve million people worldwide speak Greek. They include, of course, the ten million Greeks, Cypriots and Greek-speaking people in Italy, Albania, Turkey, the US and other countries. The Greek language has been spoken for nearly 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in the world.
The Greek islands are about 2,000, but only 170 are inhabited. The largest Greek island, Crete, covers an area of 8,260 square kilometers.
Athens has been inhabited continuously for 7,000 years. This makes it one of Europe's oldest cities.
On average, the Greek citizens, enjoy 250 days of sunshine a year. This equates to 3,000 enviable hours of sun per year.
Life expectancy in ancient Greece was 36 years for women and 45 years for men. From all the new born children, only half were able to survive beyond the infancy stage. Today, life expectancy has reached 77 and 82 years for Greeks
Ships with Greek flag is the 70% of Europe's total merchant fleet. Domestic law requires that the 75% of the crew must be of Greek nationality.
Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world - which is not surprising of course.
About 100,000 birds from northern Europe and Asia are overwintering in the Greek area.
If you wish to make a man wealthy, don't give him more money; rather, reduce his desires.
Epicurus
Slaves in ancient Greece were up to 40-80% of the population in the city-states. They were mostly prisoners of war, abandoned children or children from enslaved parents.
The country's enviable wildlife includes 116 species of mammals, 18 species of amphibians, 59 species of reptiles, 240 species of birds and 107 species of fish. Unfortunately, about half of all mammal species are endangered.
No part of Greece is further than 137 kilometers from the sea. The country's coastline is the tenth largest in length on the planet.
Greece was once a rocky mass, completely below the sea in the prehistoric times. After the collision of the tectonic plate with Europe, its mountainous terrain was formed, and even today the earthquakes in the Aegean are related to the movements of this particular lithospheric plate.
In the 1950s, only 30% of Greeks were literate.
We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our arts have their root in Greece
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Greece is now the first in Europe to produce aluminum for thousands of applications.
Greece is the largest bauxite producer country in the European Union. Bauxite is also used in the manufacture of aircraft, electrical appliances, steel structures and others.
Greece is the only EU country with significant nickel deposits in its subsoil. There is a nickel production plant, the largest in the European Union, but exports overseas.
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