Nature of Greece. Territory and natural conditions

The absence of a permanent irrigation and the uneven distribution of precipitation greatly made the development of agriculture to the Mediterranean climate. Rivers in Greece were small and, as a rule, many of them swore in the summer. Even the very large rivers (Faries in Fessiona, Euro in Laconik, etc.) were not shipping.

The climate of Greece is heterogeneous: Mediterranean - in the coastal strip and sharply continental - in mountainous, distant from the sea, areas.

In the seaside strip, the time of the highest heat and dryness - July and August, when the temperature in the shade reaches 40 °, in the sun 70-80 °. The sky is cloudless. The sea shakes blue, and the water is so transparent that it seems that the other sun illuminates from below. The heated air flows and trembles. Mountain rivers dried, grass burned out. Suchness and transparency of air are such that each trait of the landscape protrudes with amazing brightness and bulge. The scorching heat is facilitated by a continuous breeze from the sea.

Immediately after sunset, cold gusts of wind begins with mountains. Rainy time comes from mid-September. The earth again green. Cattle descends into the plains. In November-December, southern winds bringing shower alternate with shrill cold northern winds. Sucche and the sea are hampered by land. It comes short (not more than 1.5-2 months) winter.

A wonderful description of the sudden onset of winter is given by Long in the novel "Daphnis and Chloe" (III century. N. Er): "Winter began ... Suddenly fell deep snow, lumbering all the roads; He locked in the houses of all the peasants. Student flows from the mountains lowered; Ice covered with water frozen. Trees were as if soaked; The earth was hidden under the snow and was visible only near the streams and keys. No one has driven his herds to pastures, no one showed the nose out of the door, but in the early morning, only drowning the roosters, a strong fire intelligent, alone was hungry Len, goat wool was dried out others, other birds are masters. At this time, only one concern was: in Nurseri to the feed put the balls to the bulls, in the stall goats and sheep - bombs with foliage, pigs in snacks - all sorts of vortices of the acorns. "

In March, the period of moving southern cyclones, stormy livni rushed. The mountains melted snow, and the mountain rivers were filled with water rapidly carrying. Trees were covered with fresh leaves. In April, rain sharply decreased. All flourished. The sea was calm and favorably for swimming. Rare rains in May are not able to drink the soil. River Melli. Vegetation dried; Cattle rises in the mountains. In late May - early June, bread was removed from the fields. In highland areas, the climate changed significantly. At an altitude of 500-600 m above the sea level in June was already cool. Above in the mountains in some places there was still snow.

Greece occupies southern part And nearby islands. This country borders with Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. By virtue of its geographical position of Ellad is distinguished by a unique relief, nature and climate.

Geographical position

Total equal to 132 thousand square kilometers. It is washed by several seas. The geographical position of Greece is such that this country has a coastline long in 15 thousand kilometers. The country can be divided into three parts: the mainland, Peloponnese Peninsula and Numerous Islands. Greece, located in the Balkans, consists of several provinces: Greek Macedonia, Frace, Epirus, Fessals.

Peloponnes

Material Greece on the map has a tip in the form of the Peloponnese Peninsula. It is connected to the Balkans Corinth Conditioner. Through it, in order to improve the logistics there was a ship the shipping channel. In the south of the peninsula between Messinia and Laconia, Mount Taigaet are located. They consist of limestone and crystalline slates. Self high peaks Each winter is covered with snow. Greece's geographical position is that brown, fir and oak forests grow in these latitudes. Periodically, they strongly suffer from large-scale fires.

In antiquity, Peloponnese was the place of origin of the ancient Mycena Civilization. Today the largest city Peninsula - Patras in which 169 thousand people live. This port is located in the harbor of the bay called Patrikos. In the center of Peloponnese, there is a mountain range from which four more chains are departed. They form small peninsula and picturesque bays.

Seas

Coastal geographical position Greece made her country of several seas. It is washed at once in three pools. This is an Aegean, Ionian and south of Crete, who are all together are part of one big Mediterranean Sea.

The Greeks since the most ancient times were closely related to water. Their ships went far east and the West, and enterprising travelers founded colonies across the major sea for Greece is the Aegean Sea. It is located between Malaya Asia, the Balkan Peninsuit and Crete Island. His water is washed by the coast not only Greece, but also her neighbors of Turkey.

Islands

In the West, Greece coast is framed by the Ionic Islands. This is a relatively small group. But the Aegean Sea is sleeping with a huge number of islands. They are divided into several groups: Cyclades, northern sprays, southern sprays (Dodecanese). Most large islands - Crete and Rhodes. In connection with this diversity, the geographical position of Greece is extremely extraordinated. In total, the country belongs about two thousand islands of different sizes. No more than 200 are populated.

Relief

No matter how modest in size is Greece on the map, its relief is distinguished by a variety. There are mountain ranges and high mountains. Separate groups make up the peaks of Frakia, Macedonia, Pinda, Olympus (there is the same array and the most high top Greece with a height of 2900 meters). Mountains alternate with plains and small rivers.

The shores are deeply cut and make many surprises in themselves. Therefore, even on the general standards of the Mediterranean there is no such unique countrylike Greece. Description of the relief can not do without mention of Cape Tenaro on the Peloponnese Peloponnese. Not far from him is deepest vpadina The Mediterranean Sea, which is called "Inussky Well".

Limestones are widespread in Greece. Thanks to them in the country (especially in its western) a lot of caves, and other landscape details, giving her an amazing natural look.

Mountains are mostly young and are folded. In addition to limestones, they are folded and markels. Greek mountains have almost no sharp ridges and vertices. The slopes are usually devoid of vegetation due to a long-time grazing there livestock and dry southern climate.

Climate

According to meteorological indicators, Greece, the description of which would be incomplete without mentioning its temperature mode, most of its territory is distinguished by the Mediterranean and subtropical climate. At the same time, specialists allocate several specific regions. For example, in the northern epire, northern Macedonia and partly in Fessiona, the climate is not only mountain, but also moderate. His characteristics (dry hot summer, cold winter) look like alpine.

In the Attics, on Peloponnese and Crete Climate - Mediterranean. There are rare precipitation here. In some seasons, all summer can pass without a hint of rain. In the same zone is the island of Karpathos. Greece has a transition zone on the north where the climate is extremely discharged - it can be both very cold and hot.

On the weather in the mainland country strongly affects the Mountain Ridge of the Pind. The region to the west of him (Epir) receives significantly more precipitation than the Fessiona located in the east.

The capital of Athens is located in the transition zone, where the features of the Mediterranean and temperate climate are combined. In the southern part of the country, most precipitation falls in winter. One way or another, but comfort is the main thing, with which Greece is associated with. Mediterranean Sea Nash warm waters Softens the local climate.

Lakes and rivers

Most big Lake Greece is Janin. Because of the mountains there are no large river systems here, and the available rivers are distinguished by picturesque waterfalls and thresholds. Many of them flow in canyons. Aliacmon, Sameya long river Greece, has a length of 300 kilometers. Water arteries of the country are not suitable for shipping, but they are effectively used as energy sources and for irrigation of agricultural fields.

The biggest (in addition to Allakymon) is Nestos, Evros, Wardar, Strimon, Aheelos. They are distinguished by snow rain and rain nutrition. The stock may vary depending on the time of year. Most of the river merge in the summer. Some of them can temporarily dry.

Nature

As you know, Greece, along with Latynia, gave the name to many animals and plants. The nature of this country is characterized by the wealth of a variety of species. Olive and orange trees can grow right on the streets of cities. There are many cypress trees in the country. Walnuts are growing in Greece - here they are known as "acorns of the Gods."

Local flora has a mixed nature due to the fact that this region In fact, it is a mix between three parts of the world. On the stony plains and the slopes of the hills are contained by plantations of figs, olives, pomegranate. Also frequent vineyards and fruit gardens.

Noteworthy fauna, which is distinguished by the island of Karpathos. Greece is one of the last habitats of rare Mediterranean monks sealers. Their population living in the Carpathose is guarded by environmentalists. Another view of Greece is a view from the Red Book - the local sea turtle.

In the northern forests of the mainland of the country there are lyry, foxes and even brown bears. Greek hoofs are represented by loungers, mountain goats, roots, boars and noble deer. In the south there is a lot bats, lizards and snakes. The most common mammals are rodents (voles, sony, hamsters, dickerages, mice).

Bird fauna consists of wild ducks, quails, pigeons, partridges, winterwinds, etc. Eagles, vultures, falcons and owls are common from predators. In winter, there are flamingos when they fly to the island of Kos, where the city of Kos is located. Greece attracts migratory birds with its mild comfortable climate.

Minerals

Greek minerals are not numerous, but diverse. Since the 1980s It produces oil and natural gas, whose deposit was found on the island of Tasos. Other fuel resources are lignite and brown coal.

There are ore deposits in the country resulting from the formation of crystalline rocks. Not far from Athens and on some Islands, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, polymetals, bauxites are mined. In quantitative terms there are not so much. Much more in Greece sandstones, limestone and marble (that is, valuable building materials). The development of granite is carried out on kikladakh. Marble quarries of Paros are known from ancient times. From ores in Greece most aluminum species. Their overall reserves of different estimates are about 650 million tons, which allows you to send this raw material for export.

In Eldead, one of the most ancient mines in the history of mankind appeared. Some of them work to this day. For example, a mine next to Lavrion in Attica is a source of silver and lead. In the north of Greece there are deposits with a rare chromite Zheleznyak. In the same place asbestos. Greece supplies magnesite raw materials to the external market. Nisiros and dash is mined pempes and emery. Sulfide ores are found on Peloponnese and Frakia.

Another Hippocrates noticed that the Mediterranean climate well affects the health of people. It is not by chance that the Mediterranean was settled with deep antiquity.
Greece is located on eastern coast Mediterranean Sea.
The northern part of the ancient Greece was surrounded by the ridges of the Balkan Mountains. The highest mountain peaks States were Olympus and Parnas. Ancient Greece was washed by such seas: Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean.

The climate of the ancient Greece was hot and arid - the rains here were extremely rare. Unlike other southern states, winter in Greece was cold, but the snow was absent. In ancient Greece, there were a lot of valleys, mountain meadows and ridges, but the land that could be used in agriculture was found only in the northern part of the state.

On the slopes of the mountains grew grapes, olives and oranges were contemplated in the southern valleys. The mountains of ancient Greece were rich in iron and non-ferrous metals, as well as on the deposits of marble, building stone and red clay.

Ancient Greek nature, in general, it is impossible to be called a favorable person for human life. At the beginning of its existence Ancient Greece It was a poor country. In order to fully engage in the economy, the ancient Greeks were forced to build channels so that land irrigation occurred. However, with poor resources, ancient Greece possessed beautiful naturethat has formed a high globility of the Greek people.

Despite the fact that Greece stretches from north to south almost 800 km, natural complexes are quite similar throughout the country. From north to south along the western coast of the country, several chains stretched low mountains Pind (highest point - Mount Zmolikas, 2637 m). West of them all over the shore stretches the narrow strip of lowlands, and the east of the low plateaus disseminated by the few valleys. In North Fessiona, a separate array of the highest point of the country is towers - Mount Olymp (2917 meters) and running around the chain of Parnas Mountains (lyocur, 2459 meters), Vermion, Falakron, Menikion and Peteria, between which are interrupted and fertile plains.

Most of these mountain systems are composed of ancient limestones, easily permeable for water, replete caves and karst areas. Therefore, in the conditions of a dry local climate, there is a sufficiently monotonous vegetation of the Mediterranean type, presented mainly by evergreen subtropical species, the same picture and on the islands. However, in general, more than 6,000 species of plants were recorded in Greece (including 250), and some coastal and internal areas have a richest flora (approximately the fifth of the country is covered with forests), for the most part of the human activity. Just as interesting and animal world Countries - here are a bit of large mammals (brown bears, wild cats, roots, sacks, wild goats and others), but many insects and birds. And in the waters of the country's coast dwell a whitewash seal and sea \u200b\u200bturtle Carette listed in the Red Book.

There are no large and full-flowered rivers, and many of the small and brow-cut local watercourses in summer are simply dry. Coastline Countries are bizarrely rolled and replete with numerous peninsulas, bays, capes and surrounding straits, which gives its famous charm and flavor.

The Greek Islands in nature for the most part repeat the mainland country - the same dry low mountains and hills, the same slopes planted by cypresses and vineyards, only the amount of precipitation here for the most part is even more modest, and therefore many slopes of the flavors. The largest Greek island - Crete - Almost entirely occupied by a mountain massif with higher point - Distion Mountain (2148 meters) and Lassiti Plateau.
Greece is located in a geologically active area.

Allada was the kingdom of evergreen Mediterranean vegetation. Low shrubs and drought-resistant rigid breeds of trees (laurel, pistachios, oleander, etc.) prevailed. The mountains were covered with forests, which are currently very cut down. The world of mammals was distinguished by a variety. In the mountains lived bears, wolves, foxes, boars, deer and sulfas. Outful herds of wild goats and sheep passed on the islands. In the north of the country there were even lions. The world of feathered consisted of local species (owls, falcons, Korshunov) and migratory birds held in Greece. Infexial were marine fish. Attica was famous for wild bees that gave excellent honey.

The soil of Greece is rocky, low-grade and difficult to cultivate. Cereal crops (mainly barley and wheat) gave good yields only in some areas (Laconik, Boeotia, Fessiona). Much more efficiently, viticulture (especially developed on the islands) and the cultivation of Olive (the main center of which was attic). In the gardens and gardens, vegetables and fruits were ripe, the most famous of which was fig. Engaged in the Greeks and cattle breeding, breeding cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry.

Greece is located in the south-east of Europe, in the south Balkan Peninsula, as well as on the islands of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian seas. The area is 131944 km2. The territory of Greece is located from about 35 ° 00` Up to 42 ° 00` by latitude and 19 ° 00` Up to 28 ° 30` For longitude. Bordered by Bulgaria 494 km, Macedonia 228 km, Turkey 206 km and Albania 282 km. It is washed by the Mediterranean, Ionian, Aegean and Libyan seas, the length of the coastline of more than 15,000 kilometers. The islands are combined into several archipelago. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe islands is 24,800 km2, which is 20% of the territory.

According to the nature of natural conditions, 8 districts are allocated in Greece. Northern Greece with the smallest subtropical character of climate and vegetation, with alternating plains and chains of the mountains of southeast stretch.

Fessionals and its ridges, and arrays. Western Greece is the most mountainous and moistened part of the country. Ionian islands are fertile, with an even subtropical climate. Central Greece is low-water, with the most dry and hot summer. South Greece with the most mild in continental Greece with a climate. Crete is the largest South Island of Greece. On the island there is a delightful Bay Miraboron, and the palm beach of Wai with white sand and banana plantations, and the longest Samaria gorge in Europe, and all sorts of caves. Islands Aegean Sea Less fertile, most highly, than the islands of the Ionic Sea.

Relief of Greece

Relief predominantly mountain. 80% of the country's territory constitutes mountains and plateaus, while mountain ranges occupy 25% of the territory, prevailing average mountains with altitudes from 1200 to 1800 meters. East End Countries, Peloponnese, coast (city of Art in the Amrivial Bay, the west coast, the city of hair and Lamia) are equible.

In the central part of the mainland Greece there is a mountain system of Pind (Dinar Highlands). Western Peninsula (Epir) - limestone. In the north of the country, relief is due to gratings and gneisses with limestone, northern Pind. In the East - Highlands and Grabri, the Fesselsian Plain is the largest intergurnaya vpadina.

Pinda Mountain Parnaas (2457 m), Olympus (2917 m) rises above the Corinth Bay. The mountains separate the attic plains from Plains Besotia. The coasts are formed by steep cliffs.

Statistical indicators of Greece
(as of 2012)

Peloponnese - Peninsula, connected to the mainland Corinth Ist. Peloponnese Mountains is the continuation of Pind Mountains. The ridges departing to the south and southeast of Peloponnese form the bays, Capes Acryatas, Tereron (Matapas) and Male. The East Argolide Peninsula is located between Sironikos and Argolyakos Bay. The shore is dissected and bordered by the plains of Argolide, Laconia and Elida.

Greek Macedonia and Frace barking the north shore of the Aegean Sea. The Alialymont River, Wardar, Strimon and Nestos originate from the Balkan Peninsula. Their plains are separated by hills. Rhodopian mountains are located in Frakia, the plains are filled with dry sands and clay. On the North Coast of the Aegean Sea is the Chalkidiki Peninsula. Its parts - Casander, Sithonia and Iion Oros. On Ayon Oros is Mount Athos (2033 m).

Inner waters of Greece

In a narrow Greek peninsula with a strongly dissected surface, large river systems could not form. Mountain rivers prevail, short, with a steep fall.

The rivers flow to the sea in narrow, often canyon-shaped valleys. The longest river of Greece, stretching almost 300 km and is entirely within the country - Alialymon (Vistric). The largest multi-water rivers - Moritz (EBROS), Nestos (place), Strimon (Struma) and Vardar - originate in the central, massive part of the Balkan Peninsula and proceed through the territory of Greece only in the areas of its lower flow. All of them irrigate the northern part of the country.

The most sore river of Western Greece is Aheloos, richest in the reserves of hydroenergoresurs. The Fessel Plain is irrigated by the Ryatos River. The most centuries and long river Peloponnese Peninsula - Alfeos. Nutrition rivers predominantly rain and snow-rain. Characterized by a sharp seasonal flow fluctuation. Rainy winter and spring when snow melts in the mountains, the rivers are multi-wheeled and violent: they swell after each shower. In the summer, they are very melted, some even completely dry. The wet western half of Greece has more permanent rivers than the east, has a thicker river network.

Greece Rivers are not suitable for shipping, but they play a fairly large role as energy sources. Even greater economic significance They have for irrigation of fields in a dry period.

In Greece, there are over 20 lakes with an area of \u200b\u200b10 to 100 square meters. kilometers. The largest and in-depth of them include Lake Trichonis (95.5 km2) - in the West, Volvi (75.6 km2) and Vegritis (72.5 km2) - in the north. One of the largest Lakes of the Balkan Peninsula - Prespa (283 km2), only a small part enters the limits of Greece. It is mainly located on the territory of Yugoslavia and partly comes in Albania.

Many in Greece Karst Lakes. They, as a rule, small, feed, mainly underground waters. The largest of them is Janin (22 km2) in the north-west of the country.

Minerals Greece

Minerals of Greece are diverse, albeit small. The only fuel resource is brown coal, lignit. Only since 1981 began to develop recently open fields of natural gas and oil near the island of Tasos. The most important ore deposits are associated with the ancient crystalline rocks.

In the vicinity of Athens, iron ores are produced on the islands of Evie and Cyclades, and a manganese ore is found, there are nickel, chromium, copper, polymetallic ores, bauxites (aluminum ore). In abundance there are building materials - limestone, sandstones, the most valuable marble varieties.

Since ancient times, leaders, copper, silver and other metals are mined in Greece. One of the most ancient mines of the world near the city of Lavrion, on the Attica Peninsula, gives about 18 thousand tons of lead annually and approximately 15.5 tons of silver. Complex sulfide ores containing these metals are also mined near Alexandroupolis in Thrace and in the East Peloponnese. Near the goat nor, in the north of Greece, the rich deposits of chromite zonestone and major deposits of Asbesta were found. Greece is also rich in Magnesite raw materials. On the islands of Tire and Nisiros mined PEMMU very good quality. On the island of Naxos - the world's largest field in the world.

Cyclades contain granite, marble and other building materials. Paros from ancient times is known for its quarries where marble is mined. Among minerals, rich deposits of bauxite, stocks of St. 650 million tons.

Climate Greece

Great influence of mountains on the climate of the country. In Greece, only on the plains and in the lower parts of the mountains near the sea is typically expressed by the Mediterranean subtropical climate with soft wet winter and hot dry summer. The higher in the mountains, the lower the temperature and more precipitation falls over the year. In the mountains above 1000 m, and in the northern and northeastern part of Greece, even at the heights of 500-600 m, snow falls annually, and the summer, unlike plains, is not so dry.

Extracted, mainly from the north to south, the ridges are a significant barrier for western wind moisture.

The western part of the Greek Peninsula has a more humid and mild climate than its eastern half. 1200-1400 mm of precipitation falls on the windward side of the mountains, and on the leeward - twice as much. On the plains of the eastern part of the country, their number falls up to 350-500 mm per year. At the same time, the maximum falls on November-December, when cyclones are most often penetrated over the Mediterranean Sea. The dryness in Greece increases both from west to east and from north to south.

Due to the recovery of huge heat reserves, the water mass of the Mediterranean Sea is maintained a fairly high air temperature. The average temperature of January in the north of the country is 4 ° C, and in the southern part of the Aegean Sea 11-13 ° C. Negative the average monthly temperatures January is observed only in the mountains: in the north of Greece at an altitude of 700-800 m, in the south - from a height of 1400-1500 m above sea level.

However, on lowlands in winter, there are sometimes short-term frosts, and snow falls, which lies several hours. Usually in the winter period, the vegetation of plants on lowlands and at the bottom of the mountains is not interrupted even in January. Fall trees are discharged by foliage, but, for example, orange and tangerine stand, decorated with gold fruits, which are sleeping only by mid-December. Do not have time to remove the fruits of citrus fruits, as the almonds, the Japanese Kisser begin to bloom, the anemone blooms. In February, wildflowers bloom in coastal plains. From the middle of March they plant and sow summer cultures. In April, apricots, sweet cherry, cherry. Clean meadow hay. By the end of May, bread, summer vegetables ripen in the south of the country.

Since June, summer dry period begins. Vegetable life is fascinated, the landscape takes an increasingly yellow-brown color. IN southern Greece Already by the beginning of June, bread from the fields remove, and by June, bread is removed throughout the country.

The most arid and the hottest months - July and August, average temperature Air on lowlands ranges up to 40 ° and even 45 °. On the coasts of summer heat soften sea breezes. In these months, most fruits are sleeping - figs, grenades, etc. In September, grapes ripen. Since October, the rain period begins. Northern dry winds give way to wet western and southern. After the first abundant autumn rains, the Earth again takes the spring view: the meadow dress up with green cover, fields are again processed from the mountains on lowlands, on winter pastures. Rivers and streams are filled with water.

Soil and plant world of Greece

For the soil and vegetable cover, Greece is characterized by a high-rise explanancy, a frequent shift in one belt of different types of vegetation, different types of soils. Due to the wide propagation of limestones, low-power soils predominate, in many places limestone overlook the surface. The soils of the plains were formed mainly on alluvial sediments and quite fertile, but heavily dried in the summer.

Greece vegetation is very diverse (there are more than 6 thousand species of plants) and varies depending on the height above sea level. Shrubs dominate: they cover 25% of the country's territory, while forests are only 19%. In antiquity, only a small part of the lands was suitable for treating and cultivating crops. In order to get new territories under arable land and gardens, began to cut out forests covering the slopes of the mountains. Therefore, now only 12% of the territory of the country is occupied by forests.

It is said that "Greece ate the goat." Indeed, sheep and goats, have long been bred by the Greeks, eaten and pulled out young shoots of trees. There are widespread overgrown evergreen - McWis and a shiblyak. Typical for Greece and thickets of friganes - low, poorly lean barbed semi-stares. Many scientists believe that this secondary vegetation, formed in the place of the oak forests and the antiquity of oak forests.

Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation covered with plains and almost all of the foothills. For this belt is most characteristic McWis and Frigan. There are groves of pines, evergreen oaks, cypresses and plates. The mastic pistachio is growing to the peninsula - a deciduous plant. If you make a notch to make a notch, the juice will flow - mastic, from the dog there are transparent varnish, which are covered with picturesque paintings.

The so-called "evergreen belt" mainly consists of cultural vegetation. The most typical representative - olives (olive). Imagine Greece without olive groves is impossible. Olive branch has long become a symbol of Greek culture, greek land. Meanwhile, Olive here is the same Castor, as well as the Greek tribes. Motherland of olive tree hot banks of the china. Phoenicians, fearless navigators first mastered the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. They brought to the critic of the bones of an unprecedented plant. Dicks loved in Crete. So next to the Palace of Minos appeared the first olive grove.

On coastal lowlands (especially in Central and Northern Greece) most Lands occupy grain fields, as well as cotton plantations and tobacco. On the plains and in the foothill belt are widespread vineyards and gardens from Mediterranean fruit trees. Near settlements are often found pyramidal cypresses. Fruit gardens are often bordered by high natural hedges from agave and naughty, which complement the colorful picture of the cultural vegetation of evergreen belt.

From 120 to 460 m, evergreen and deciduous forests are growing - oak, black spruce, walnut, beech, Sumy. The next "evergreen belt" belt - mountain forests and shrubs, in which, with an increase in height, cultural vegetation is increasingly replaced by natural, evergreen forests and shrubs are replaced by deciduous, and the last - coniferous, reaching the upper border of the forest, such wild flowers are also growing here. Anemones and cyclamen.

Above the slopes are growing first deciduous (oak, maple, plane, ash, linden, chestnut, at the top of the beech), and then coniferous (fir, pine) of the forest; Above 2000 m - subalpine meadows.

Greece, like the Balkans in general, is replete with walnuts. They are called the gomens of the gods, but they grow on deciduous trees with a spreaded crown with a height of up to 30 meters. From immature nuts prepare jam, mature nuts and walnut oil are very useful and tasty.

Animal world of Greece

Natural vegetation in Greece has been preserved a little, the animal world of the country is poor mammals, especially large, who were exterminated by a person for several millennia. The noble deer is almost exterminated, however, such small animals like rabbits and hares are common. Larger animals are still found in the mountains: a mountain goal and a brown bear are found in Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, a wolf is found in more distant forest arrays. Also from predators in Greece, you can see a wild cat, a fox, jackal, stone cunita, badger, wild boar, a European bear, lynx. From the hoofs in there are Cretan wild goat, Lan, Koslya, Caban. A lot of animals listed in the Red Book are inhabited in Greece, among them: the Mediterranean sea turtle, a monk seal.

The most numerous from mammals rodents (dike, gray hamster, mice, sony, voles, etc.), southern species Volatile mice and insectivores - earthmock, hedgehogs, moles. In Greece, the diversity of reptiles - turtles, lizards, snakes. They easily carry the heat and lack of moisture in dry summer season. In wooded areas, the land Greek turtle lives - the most common type of turtles in the country. From numerous lizards are the most typical rock for Greece, or a wall, Greek Ostrogola, Peloponnes, Ionical and the largest in Europe - green. Among the snakes are especially common between poloz, couch, horned viper.

Diverse and the world of birds. Quail, wild ducks, pigeons Viliaria and Clintuh, gray and especially mountain partridges, brightly opened foddes, sulfur, kingfisher, and from predatory, black necks, eagles, falcons, owls The most typical representatives of the Fauna of Birds of Greece and the whole Mediterranean. On sea coasts are numerous flocks of chaps.

Characterized for Greece also long-axis cormorant, curly pelican, stork. In the forests there is a south green woodpecker, mountain oatmeal. Typical for the country Representatives of Sparrows detachment - Stone Sparrow, Canary Reel, Greek Swallow. Also many types of ground mollusks (snails). So, in Crete there are 120 types of mollusks, of which 77 are characterized only by this territory.

(Elda) - Antique Greek civilization in the south-east of Europe with the center in the Balkan Peninsula, the Aegean Islands and west coast Malaya Asia. The geographical framework of ancient Greek history was not constant, but changed and expanded as historical development.

From the VIII-VI centuries. BC. After the powerful colonization movement, the Greeks captured the territories of Sicily and Southern Italywho got the name Great Greece, as well as the Black Sea coast. After the victorious campaigns of Alexander Macedonsky at the end of the IV century. BC. And the conquest of the Persian Power, in the Middle and Middle East, the Hellenistic states were formed and these territories became part of the ancient Greek world. In the era of Hellenism, ancient Greece occupied a huge territory from Sicily in the West to India in the East, from the Northern Black Sea region in the north to the first thresholds of the Nile in the south. However, in all periods of the ancient Greek history of her central part The Aegean region was considered, where Greek statehood and culture originated and reached their heyday.

The history of the ancient Greece begins with the turn of the III-II thousand to AD, when the first government formations arose on Crete Island, and ends of the II-I centuries. BC. When the Greek and Hellenistic States of the Eastern Mediterranean were captured by Rome and are included in the Roman power. During this period, the ancient Greeks created a developed economic system based on the rational and cruel operation of slave labor, a polis organization with a republican device, a high culture that had a huge impact on the development of Roman and world culture. These achievements ancient Greek civilization enriched the global historical process, served as the foundation for the subsequent development of the peoples of the Mediterranean in the era of Roman domination.

Population of ancient Greece

Unlike many countries of the Ancient East, which are characterized by ethnic distrut, coexistence within the same countries of many nations, tribes, ethnic groups belonging to different language families and even races for central region Greece, i.e., the Aegean basin and the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula, characteristic of a certain ethnic homogeneity.

These areas were settled in the main Greek nation, represented by four tribal groups: Ahaeitsa, Doriys, Ionians and Aeolites. Each of these tribal groups spoke to the dialect and had some features in customs and religious views, but these differences were insignificant. All the Greeks spoke in the same language, well understood each other and clearly realized their belonging to one nationality and one civilization.

The most ancient tribal group were the Ahaeis, who came to the southern part of Balkan Greece at the end of the III milk. BC. At the end of the II thousand BC. under the head of the Dorian tribes moving from the area of \u200b\u200bmodern Epir and Macedonia, the aheitsi were partially assimilated, partially pushed out in mountain areas. In I thousand BC. The descendants of the ancient Ahetsev lived in the mountains of Arcadia, in the Major Asian region of Pamphilia and in Cyprus. Dorians settled most of the peloponnese (laconika, messenger, argold, eloid), most of southern Islands The Aegean Sea, in particular, Crete and Rhodes, some karya territories in Malaya Asia. There were residents of Epirus, Etolia and other regions of Western Greece near Dorians.

The third tribal group, who spoke on the attic and Ionian dialect, settled in Attica, Evbea, the islands of the central part of the Aegean Sea, such as Samos, Chios, Lemnos, and in the area of \u200b\u200bIonia on the low-depth coast. The tribal group of the Aeolians lived in Beotic, Fessals and in the field of an Aolid on a low-depth coast north of Ionia, on the island of Lesbos.

However, neither the aheitsa nor Dorians nor the aolians were the indigenous population of ancient Greece. Before them, the tribes, the language and ethnicity of which remains problematic. Of them, the most ancient untransparent toponyms are preserved, ending on - "NF": Corinth, Olinf, tyaring, etc., as well as plant names on - "NT", "-C": hyacinth, cypress, Narcissus. Most likely, the Doellinsky population was not Indo-European and was related to the tribes of Malaya Asia. Later, after the appearance of Ellinov, the local tribes will be called "LELLES", "PELASGI", "CARICES". The remains of these doggy tribes lived in the Aegean region and did not play a significant role in the ethnogenesis of the Greece of the I thousand. BC. More important in fate greek states They had residents of South Frace.

Natural conditions of ancient Greece

Natural conditions of Balkan Greece are peculiar. In general, that mountain countryThe valleys and plains are given only about 20% of the entire territory. Numerous mountain ridges divide Balkan Greece on many small and smallest, isolated valleys from each other with a closed separate life. Many such valleys have come to the sea and could communicate not only with neighboring policies, but also with distant countries. The sea played a huge role in the life and historical development of ancient Greek states. The coastline of the Aegean coast is extremely cut and replete with numerous bays and harbors, comfortable for navigation.

Greece is rich in minerals: marble, iron ores, copper, silver, wood, pottery of good quality, which ensured the Greek craft with a sufficient amount of raw materials. The soil of Greece is rocky, Mazoplomere and difficult to cultivation. However, the abundance of the Sun and the soft subtropical climate was made by them favorable for growing grape vines and olive trees. There were also quite significant valleys (in Besotia, Laconik, Fessiona), suitable for agriculture and crops of grain.