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Continental Greece (Greek: Στερεά Ελλάδα, romanized: Stereá Elláda; formerly Χέρσος Ἑλλάς, Chérsos Ellás), colloquially known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), is a traditional geographic region of Greece. In English, the area is usually called Central Greece, but the equivalent Greek term (Κεντρική Ελλάδα, Kentrikí Elláda) is more rarely used.
Continental / Central Greece Στερεά / Κεντρική Ελλάδα Stereá / Kentrikí Elláda | |
---|---|
![]() Continental Greece (blue) within Greece | |
Capital | Athens (until 1987, then abolished) |
Subdivisions | |
Area | |
• Total | 24,818.3 km2 (9,582.4 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | 4,591,568 (2,001 census) |
• Density | 185/km2 (480/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Stereoelladites, Roumeliotes |
It includes the southern part of the Greek mainland (sans the Peloponnese), as well as the offshore island of Euboea. Since 1987, its territory has been divided among the administrative regions of Central Greece and Attica, and the regional unit (former prefecture) of Aetolia-Acarnania in the administrative region of Western Greece.
Etymology
The region has traditionally been known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), a name deriving from the Turkish word Rūm-eli, meaning "the land of the Rūm [the Romans, i.e. the Byzantine Greeks]" and originally encompassing all of the Ottoman Empire's European possessions. The official name Stereá Elláda ("Continental" or "Mainland" Greece) derives from the juxtaposition with the Peloponnese peninsula across the Corinthian Gulf, and the fact that these two territories formed the independent First Hellenic Republic after the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829).
Geography
Central Greece is the most populous geographical region of Greece, with a population of 4,591,568 people, and covers an area of 24,818.3 km2 (9,582.4 sq mi), making it the second-largest of the country. It is located to the north of the Peloponnese and to the south of Thessaly and Epirus, bordering the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west and the Corinthian Gulf to the south. Its climate is temperate along its coastlines, and dry in the interior.[citation needed]
Mountains
The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country.
Number | Mountain | Height (m) | Ranking in Greece | Regional unit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Giona | 2,510 | 5th | Phocis |
2 | Vardousia | 2,495 | 7th | Phocis |
3 | Parnassus | 2,457 | 9th | Phocis, Boeotia |
4 | Tymfristos | 2,315 | 16th | Evrytania, Phthiotis |
5 | Oeta | 2,152 | 22nd | Phthiotis |
Lakes
Central Greece also has some of the largest lakes in Greece; among the most important is Mornos lake in Phocis, which supplies water to Phocis, parts of Phthiotis, Boeotia, and Athens as well.
Number | Lake | Area (km2) | Ranking in Greece | Regional unit |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trichonida | 96.513 | 1st | Aetolia-Acarnania |
2 | Yliki | 22.731 | 9th | Boeotia |
3 | Amvrakia | 13.619 | 13th | Aetolia-Acarnania |
4 | Lysimachia | 13.200 | 14th | Aetolia-Acarnania |
5 | Ozeros | 10.013 | 16th | Aetolia-Acarnania |
Rivers
Some important and well-known rivers of Central Greece are the Acheloos in Aetolia-Acarnania, which is the second longest of the country, the Spercheios in Phthiotis, the Evenus in Aetolia-Acarnania, and the Mornos in Phocis.
Cities
The principal cities of the region of Central Greece according to the census of 2001 are:
- Athens
- 3,130,841 (Athens urban area)
- 3,761,810 (Athens metropolitan area)
- 3,130,841 (Athens urban area)
- Lamia
- 58,601
- Agrinio
- 57,147
- Chalkida
- 53,584
- 21,211
- Livadeia
- 20,061
Gallery
- The Athenian Treasury in Delphi
- Livadeia
- Galaxidi
- Chalkis
- Hosios Loukas
- Fustanella from central Greece
References
- "Ρούμελη". Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek (in Greek). Institute of Modern Greek Studies (Manolis Triantafyllidis Foundation). 1998.
External links
- ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ - ΠΕΡΙΦΕΡΕΙΑ ΣΤΕΡΕΑΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΑΣ (in Greek)
This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Central Greece geographic region news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Continental Greece Greek Sterea Ellada romanized Sterea Ellada formerly Xersos Ἑllas Chersos Ellas colloquially known as Roumeli Roymelh is a traditional geographic region of Greece In English the area is usually called Central Greece but the equivalent Greek term Kentrikh Ellada Kentriki Ellada is more rarely used Continental Central Greece Sterea Kentrikh Ellada Sterea Kentriki ElladaTraditional region of GreeceContinental Greece blue within GreeceCapitalAthens until 1987 then abolished SubdivisionsList Aetolia AcarnaniaAtticaBoeotiaEuboeaEvrytaniaPhocisPhthiotisArea Total24 818 3 km2 9 582 4 sq mi Population Total4 591 568 2 001 census Density185 km2 480 sq mi Demonym s Stereoelladites Roumeliotes It includes the southern part of the Greek mainland sans the Peloponnese as well as the offshore island of Euboea Since 1987 its territory has been divided among the administrative regions of Central Greece and Attica and the regional unit former prefecture of Aetolia Acarnania in the administrative region of Western Greece EtymologyThe region has traditionally been known as Roumeli Roymelh a name deriving from the Turkish word Rum eli meaning the land of the Rum the Romans i e the Byzantine Greeks and originally encompassing all of the Ottoman Empire s European possessions The official name Sterea Ellada Continental or Mainland Greece derives from the juxtaposition with the Peloponnese peninsula across the Corinthian Gulf and the fact that these two territories formed the independent First Hellenic Republic after the Greek War of Independence 1821 1829 GeographyMount ParnassusNafpaktos Central Greece is the most populous geographical region of Greece with a population of 4 591 568 people and covers an area of 24 818 3 km2 9 582 4 sq mi making it the second largest of the country It is located to the north of the Peloponnese and to the south of Thessaly and Epirus bordering the Aegean Sea to the east the Ionian Sea to the west and the Corinthian Gulf to the south Its climate is temperate along its coastlines and dry in the interior citation needed Mountains The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece having some of the highest elevations in the country Number Mountain Height m Ranking in Greece Regional unit1 Giona 2 510 5th Phocis2 Vardousia 2 495 7th Phocis3 Parnassus 2 457 9th Phocis Boeotia4 Tymfristos 2 315 16th Evrytania Phthiotis5 Oeta 2 152 22nd PhthiotisLakes Central Greece also has some of the largest lakes in Greece among the most important is Mornos lake in Phocis which supplies water to Phocis parts of Phthiotis Boeotia and Athens as well Number Lake Area km2 Ranking in Greece Regional unit1 Trichonida 96 513 1st Aetolia Acarnania2 Yliki 22 731 9th Boeotia3 Amvrakia 13 619 13th Aetolia Acarnania4 Lysimachia 13 200 14th Aetolia Acarnania5 Ozeros 10 013 16th Aetolia AcarnaniaRivers Achelous river Some important and well known rivers of Central Greece are the Acheloos in Aetolia Acarnania which is the second longest of the country the Spercheios in Phthiotis the Evenus in Aetolia Acarnania and the Mornos in Phocis CitiesLamia The principal cities of the region of Central Greece according to the census of 2001 are Athens 3 130 841 Athens urban area 3 761 810 Athens metropolitan area dd Lamia58 601Agrinio57 147Chalkida53 584Thebes21 211Livadeia20 061GalleryThe Athenian Treasury in Delphi Livadeia Galaxidi Chalkis Hosios Loukas Fustanella from central GreeceReferences Roymelh Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek in Greek Institute of Modern Greek Studies Manolis Triantafyllidis Foundation 1998 External linksELLHNIKH DHMOKRATIA PERIFEREIA STEREAS ELLADAS in Greek