Fascinating Facts About Greece
- by XpatAthens
- Monday, 23 May 2022
Everyone knows that Greece is the cradle of Western Civilization, the birthplace of democracy, that it has a stunningly beautiful coastline, and that our Independence Day is March 25th. However, there are some facts that very few people are aware of.
There may be some things about Greece and its history that even many Greeks don’t know. Why not take this opportunity to brush up on some interesting facts and factoids about this most fascinating country before you finally travel there for an idyllic vacation this Summer?
Facts about Greece you probably didn’t know
1. There are about 2,000 islands and islets in Greece, but only 170 of them are inhabited. The largest, Crete, has an area of 8,260 square kilometers (3,189 square miles).
2. Greece is the number one country in the world in the production of natural sponges.
3. Athens had a population of about 7,000 only two centuries ago. Today the capital’s residents exceed five million, almost half of the country’s population.
4. Surrounded by the sea, there is no place in Greece that is more than 137 km (85 miles) away from the sea. Greece has the tenth-longest coastline in the world.
5. In the 1950s, only 30 percent of Greeks knew how to read and write. Today, the illiteracy rate is just 5 percent.
6. Greece ranks third in the world in olive oil production. The cultivation of olive trees in the country began in ancient times. Indeed, some olive trees which are known to have been planted in the thirteenth century still produce fruit.
7. The Greek language has been spoken for approximately 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in the world.
8. Athens has been inhabited for 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe.
9. On average, Greeks enjoy 250 days of sunshine a year. This corresponds to 6,000 hours of sun per year.
10. Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world — which is only natural considering the age of its civilization.
To read this article in full and discover more mind-blowing facts about Greece, please visit: greekreporter.com
There may be some things about Greece and its history that even many Greeks don’t know. Why not take this opportunity to brush up on some interesting facts and factoids about this most fascinating country before you finally travel there for an idyllic vacation this Summer?
Facts about Greece you probably didn’t know
1. There are about 2,000 islands and islets in Greece, but only 170 of them are inhabited. The largest, Crete, has an area of 8,260 square kilometers (3,189 square miles).
2. Greece is the number one country in the world in the production of natural sponges.
3. Athens had a population of about 7,000 only two centuries ago. Today the capital’s residents exceed five million, almost half of the country’s population.
4. Surrounded by the sea, there is no place in Greece that is more than 137 km (85 miles) away from the sea. Greece has the tenth-longest coastline in the world.
5. In the 1950s, only 30 percent of Greeks knew how to read and write. Today, the illiteracy rate is just 5 percent.
6. Greece ranks third in the world in olive oil production. The cultivation of olive trees in the country began in ancient times. Indeed, some olive trees which are known to have been planted in the thirteenth century still produce fruit.
7. The Greek language has been spoken for approximately 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest languages in the world.
8. Athens has been inhabited for 7,000 years, making it one of the oldest cities in Europe.
9. On average, Greeks enjoy 250 days of sunshine a year. This corresponds to 6,000 hours of sun per year.
10. Greece has more archaeological museums than any other country in the world — which is only natural considering the age of its civilization.
To read this article in full and discover more mind-blowing facts about Greece, please visit: greekreporter.com