Greece has the largest coastline in Europe and is the southernmost country in Europe. This landmass has rocky landscapes and jungles and lakes but Greece is widely known for its thousands of islands dotting the blue Aegean Sea to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Ionian Sea to the west. Greece is divided into three geographical zones: the continent, the islands and the Peloponnese Peninsula south of the continent. The Pindus Alps on the continent consist of the world’s lowest ravines, Vikos Gorge which drops 3,600 feet (1,100 metres). Mount Olympus is the highest elevation in Greece at 9,570 feet (2,917 metres) above sea level. Historical Greeks thought Greece was the home of the gods. Mount Olympus became the first conservation park in Greece. Family life is a very important part of life in Greece. Children most of the time stay with their parents even when they grow up. People in Greece have a longer lifespan and eat olives, olive oil, lamb, fish, squid, chickpeas and lots of fruits and vegetables in order to have a healthy life. Approximately two-thirds of the population resides in big cities. Athens is the biggest city, with more than 3.7 million people living in the municipality. In Greece, Nefos is a big smog. The Parthenon, the temple devoted to the Goddess Athena underneath the Acropolis is affected due to pollution and acid rain. Olive trees have been sown in Greece for more than 6,000 years. Every village has its own olive groves. The majority of the country was full of trees and wildlife at one time. Subsequently, the forests were cleared to make cities and farms and trees were cut down to make houses and roads. Currently, forests are found in the Pindus and Rhodope mountains. Greece has ten conservation parks and there is a practice to save the natural and cultural monuments. Aquatic parks aid in saving aquatic animals in Europe such as vulnerable sea animals, hammerhead turtles and Caribbean marine seals. The big beachfront has clean water, making Greece a perfect destination for spotting starfish, sea sponges, and sea horses hiding in the seaweed. The Greek mountains are surrounded by rebels, a tangle of grasses that don't require a lot of water. These plants consist of pleasant herbs such as basil, mint, oregano and bay trees. Bird spotting is famous in Greece where geese, ducks and swallows stay during the migration period from Africa to Europe. The government terminated their rule in 1975 and became an administrative republic. Within the framework of the constitution, there is a president and a prime minister. The president chooses a policymaker and is the head of the party that has the most seats in the parliament. The president appoints policymakers who hold government departments. The legislature, called the Vouli, has only one house with 300 members who are selected every four years. Greece has been a part of the European Union since 1981. The first big culture of Greece was the Minoan tradition on the island of Crete around 2000 B.C. Portraits found at the decay of the palace. Knossos highlight people executing somersaults over an attacking bull.
