Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nature & Wildlife
While Greece is a perfect place to rub shoulders with ancient statues, it's
equally ideal for getting up close to nature. Hike through the wildflowers,
come eye-to-eye with a loggerhead turtle or simply stretch out on a beach.
Greece has something for everyone who wants to get out and explore.
GREEN ISSUES
Environmental awareness is beginning to seep into the fabric of Greece society,
leading to slow but positive change. Environmental education has begun in schools,
recycling is more common in cities, and even in the smallest villages you may find
organic and environmentally sustainable restaurants and businesses. However,
long-standing problems such as deforestation and soil erosion date back thousands
of years. Live cultivation and goats have been the main culprits, while firewood gath-
ering, shipbuilding, housing and industry have all taken their toll.
Illegal development of mainly coastal areas and building in forested or protected
areas has gained momentum in Greece since the 1970s. Despite attempts at intro-
ducing laws and protests by locals and environmental groups, corruption and the
lack of an infrastructure to enforce the laws means little is done to abate the land-
grab. The issue is complicated by population growth and increased urban sprawl.
The developments often put a severe strain on water supplies and endangered wild-
life. A few developments have been torn down in recent years; however in more
cases, the illegal buildings have been legalised, deemed necessary due to social
need, whereby demolition would leave residents with no alternative affordable hous-
ing.
Experiencing the Outdoors
Greek Geography
No matter where you go in Greece, it's impossible to be much more than 100km from the
sea. Rugged mountains, indigo water and seemingly innumerable islands dominate the
Greek landscape, which was shaped by submerging seas, volcanic explosions and mineral-
rich terrain. The mainland covers 131,944 sq km, with an indented coastline stretching for
15,020km. Mountains rise over 2000m and occasionally tumble down into plains, particu-
larly in Thessaly and Thrace. Meanwhile, the Aegean and Ionian Seas flow between and
