Detailed maps of Greece with regions and islands.
Greece is administratively divided into 13 regions as shown in the maps below. The country consists mainly of mountainous forms surrounded by flat areas and coastal plains. The mountainous regions of Greece, which are part of the Alpine system, extend mainly from the northwest to the southeast.
The highest and steepest mountains are located in the northwest, where the Gramos Mountains reach a height of 2,519 meters and the Pindos a height of over 2,285 meters. The highest mountain in the country, Mount Olympus at 2,919 meters, is located in east-central Greece.
The mountains are interrupted by the long and narrow Gulf of Corinth, which almost separates the Peloponnese from the rest of the country. However, the mountains continue south of the bay and reach the three capes of southern Greece.
The mountain ranges, which extend in the same direction, continue to the open sea, while their highest parts protrude into the Aegean as island chains and groups. The Cyclades extend in the direction of the eastern mountain ranges into the interior of Turkey, while Crete and Rhodes form the continuation of the westernmost borders.
Both the mountains and the islands consist of sedimentary rock, mainly limestone and sandstone, most of which was exposed during the Mesozoic era (230 to 65 million years ago).
Only near the northern border of Greece are there significant igneous rocks in the landscape.The largest plains are in Macedonia, Thessaly and Thrace, all of which border the Aegean Sea.
The soils of Greece, as Plato noted more than 2,000 years ago, are thin and poor, and much of the surface is covered with bare rock. The best soils are found in the small coastal lowlands.These are mainly alluvial soils, but their productivity is severely limited by the long summer drought.
The climate in Greece is typically Mediterranean.Summers are long, hot and dry. The average temperature in July in the capital Athens is 26.7 degrees Celsius, in the mountains it is much lower.Winters are mild.
The average temperature in January is 9.2 degrees Celsius. Even in winter, temperatures are significantly lower inland, and in the mountain valleys the average values are close to freezing point, with the possibility of prolonged frost.
Snowfall is not uncommon away from the coast.
The amount of precipitation varies considerably.
In Athens, the average annual precipitation is around 394 mm, but increases significantly towards the east coast, reaching over 1,200 mm in the highest mountains. In all regions of the country, precipitation is seasonal, with most falling towards the end of fall and in winter.Only in Macedonia and Thrace is there significant rainfall in summer, while the rest of the country receives almost no rain.
