All You Can Books: Greece

Γεια σας! Hello! Welcome to Greece – the southernmost country in Europe. It is divided into the mainland, the peninsula south of the mainland called the Peloponnese and the thousands of islands in the seas around it.

Greece is one of the oldest countries in Europe, with a history going back thousands of years. Ancient Greek culture influenced Western civilization in many areas including architecture, the arts, government, language, literature, philosophy, and much more.

Let’s take a look at 10 fun facts about Greece.

  • About 7% of all the marble produced in the world comes from Greece
  • Greece has zero navigable rivers because of the mountainous terrain. Nearly 80% of Greece is mountainous.
  • Greece is the leading producer of sea sponges
Sea Sponge - Description, Habitat, Image, Diet, and Interesting Facts
Source: https://animals.net/sea-sponge/

You need a natural sponge for your shower? Greece is the best place to find it.

You can even visit the island where you find them — Kalymnos — to go find your very own.

  • 98% of the total population are ethnic Greeks

So, almost everyone in Greece is an ethnic Greek, and the rest of the population are minorities, mainly from Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, and F.Y.R.O.M.

  • The world’s third-leading producer of olives, the Greeks have cultivated olive trees since ancient times. Some olive trees planted in the thirteenth century are still producing olives.
  • 40% of the total population of Greece reside in its capital Athens

While tourists mostly think of the Greek islands, most Greeks actually live in the capital or Thessaloniki, which is the second-largest city in Greece. 40% of the total population lives in Athens. Some of them also work on the islands during the summer, but many of them live in Athens.

  • You literally can’t get away from the sea in Greece

The longest point anywhere in the country is only 85 miles from the coast, and that coastline is 9,000 miles long — one of the ten longest in the world.

  • Don’t be offended if they complement you, then spit at you.

This is only to ward off receiving the compliment from the evil eye — they really do mean it.

Even if the puffed-cheek spitting action seems a little strange, they’re only looking out for you, which is comforting.

  • Some scholars say that the Greek civilization has been around for so long that it has had a chance to try nearly every form of government.
  • Retirement homes are rare in Greece. Grandparents usually live with their children’s family until they die. Most young people live with their families until they marry
  • At traditional Greek weddings everyone dance and throw plates

While this is more of a traditional thing, it still occurs, and it’s not only something you see in movies like “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.

Learn Greek with All You Can Books with simple and easy to learn courses. Check out our Blog for Interesting Facts on multiple countries.

How many of these facts about Greece did you know beforehand? Share your result in the comment section below!

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