10 11 Acknowledgements Introduction General geography of Greece Greece is a relatively small country, and with a surface area of 132,000 km2 it is only half as big as the UK. Encompassed, however, in this modest area, is a great diversity of habitats, exceeding many European countries of much larger size. For example, one can encounter in Epirus alpine areas complete with lush conifer forests, dramatic peaks and extensive snowfields that physiographically resemble Switzerland. On the other hand, some regions of the southern Aegean are closer to Africa than to Athens, and their climate and habitats reflect this proximity. Southeastern Crete for example, con- tains one of the few true European deserts, an area closely resembling certain hamma- da regions of the Middle East. Greece is a country of mountains and islands. The Pindos range, an extension of the Dinaric Alps, forms the backbone of peninsular Greece. A number of smaller mountains originate as spurs from this block, although some, including Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece (2,917 m elevation) arise in relative isola- tion. A second major mountain block, the Rhodopes, located in Thrace, runs in a roughly east-west direction separating Greece and Bulgaria. The Peloponnese, a small- er peninsula in the south, is as mountainous as the mainland and encompasses several peaks exceeding 2,000 m in elevation. With the exception of a few large flat regions located mostly in Thessaly and Thrace, the country lacks extensive plains. Typically the mountains drop rather steeply into the sea and are generally flanked only by narrow coastal plains. While this has his- torically translated into meager agricultural outputs, it also means that large areas of the country are, by virtue of their steep and mountainous terrain, relatively protected from human activities. To visitors, Greece conjures up images of islands and there is a good reason for this. The country encompasses close to 10,000 islands and islets, the vast majority of which are found in the Aegean Sea. However, due to difficult transportation and the harsh conditions, only about 200 of them are inhabited. These islands vary significantly in physical and biological characteristics so that visiting a number of them may be neces- sary to obtain a good understanding of the region. Climate The climate in Greece is broadly classified as Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and long, dry summers. Typically the bulk of the annual precipitation, in the form of 12 Introduction Introduction 13 BLACK SEA [a{ak Kraljevo Bartin SERBIA BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA Montana Lovech a Priπtina Plovdiv Kruπevak Vratsa BOSNIA-H. MONTENEGRO YUGOSLAVIA D r n Sliven 1913 S ≤ Gabrovo Edirne Isk i Burgas Troglav SARAJEVO * Niπ n YUGOSLAVIA KOSOVO Pirot t a s Istanbul Gora≠de J. a Yambol BLACK SEA Zonguldak Ard TURKEY a YUGOSLAVIA M a l2376 Botev Karabük Orestiada CROAT-MUSLIM FED. r P E o a YUGOSLAVIA v european part r r * a Kazanl≤k o s ∏ibenik 2228 v s SERBIA BULGARIA u l a SOFIYA r Plo‹no Podgorica Didymoteicho Novi Pazar Leskovac Stara Zagora o m SERB REP. OF B s p Split Lavara s Mostar Ta (Sofia) u Bo BOSNIA-H. ra r CROATIA BULGARIA o Skopje a 2386 2522 Soufli Pernik p SEA OF Magli‹ Durmitor 2155 Plovdiv Dimitrovgrad s 1511 CROATIA Bra{ t o Echinos Pogled Pazardzhik Kirklareli Düzce 1827 MARMARA B stos i a Bolu Ne Komotini * Priπtina Kyustendil Maritsa Khaskovo Edirne Tykhero 2925 Asenovgrad * Kato Iasmos Sapes Hvar a MONTENEGRO 2378 Pe‹ M Sariyer F.Y.R.O.M 2212 Nevrokopi 2232 Xanthi 2484 Musala * a Köro‘lu Da‘i Feres Komovi 2656 KOSOVO r * Xylagani l i Izmit Adapazari t s ANATOLIKI MAKEDONIA KAI THRAKI R Lüleburgaz Former Yugoslav Republic Alexandroupoli Kor{ula ]aravica Blagoevgrad s 2029 Sidirokastro s k h a 1963 Mikropoli e a n Drama s K≤rdzhali Rodopoli Agios of Macedonia o o Irakleia Chrysoupoli r Charalampos v Dubrovnik Podgorica Kumanovo d E 2693 S o Istanbul Serres Prizren 2914 p L Dojran L Kerkinitis Kavala Nea Karvali rdanell t e s Jezercë r Skoutari Keramoti o a u Vikhren Tekirda‘ Yalova Stri D mo 1956 g Lake Tetovo m SEA OF 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s Eresos Vlorë r 2497 o e Brindisi 2917 U≈ak a Verdikoussa Larisa d Gioura Polichnitos p a O Mt Olympus P r Plomari Matera 2637 n Kalampaka 1054 S o Piperi Akra Potenza 2485 E‘ridir Metsovo i p Lesvos t t Nikaia io S Maleas Papingut Smolikas Northern Mytilini (Mytilène) o e n (Lesbos) r Lake Bey≈ehir Lake Farkadhon Stefanoviki 1551 or er Kyra Panagia Lecce P Ereikoussa 2204 Trikala V th a s or Ioannina eio N Peristera Sporades z i Pin Volos ( Alonnisos Taranto n Larisa i Kula Othonoi is d TURKEY m e 906 Katsikas 2469 Skantzoura i G a THESSALIA Rigaio Pagasitikos y Patitiri VOREIO AIGAIO Dinar Mathraki Argalasti t Lesbos Manisa Filiates h Pramanta Pyli 680 Akra Kartsino Liapades T A Nea Anchialos Skopelos r Karditsa Sofades o Ioannina a Farsala Akra n c n Kolpos Volos h Skyros (Corfu) t 2393 A Skiathos Vamvakas Trikala Kerkyra Paramythia 1974 h c Almyros Skopelos Skyros o h Kallifoni Izmir ITALY s e Igoumenitsa l 2184 2980 o Neo Monastiri d Isparta o s 792 Marmaro 2248 Kerkyra IPEIROS 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