Greece

The southernmost country of the Balkan Peninsula is Greece. It is a European, Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern country. Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, it is the heir to Classical Greece, the Byzantine Empire and almost four centuries of Ottoman Turkish rule. The geography of the country has had a major influence on its development, as the mountains restricted internal connections, but the sea opened up new horizons. The entire landmass of Greece, of which the Greek islands make up a fifth, is about the size of England. There are more than 2000 islands in Greece, about 170 of which are inhabited. The capital is Athens, which in the second half of the 20th century grew quickly. Most of the country is mountainous, with a very long, winding coastline made up of peninsulas and numerous islands. It has a climate ranging from Mediterranean to temperate to alpine, with habitats including mountains, hills, forests, rivers, lakes, coastlines and farmland. Some of the larger, carnivorous mammals in Greece include the European Wildcat, the Balkan Lynx, the Red Fox, the Golden Jackal, the Grey Wolf, the Eurasian Brown Bear, the American Mink, the Least Weasel, the European Polecat, the Marbled Polecat, the Beech Marten, the European Pine Marten, the European Badger, the Eurasian Otter and about twenty species of bat. Gyaros Island is the breeding ground for the biggest population of the endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal, and around fifteen species of whales, dolphins and porpoises have been reported in Greek waters. Greece also has a rich bird fauna, with around 450 bird species recorded.