Geography of Greece Balkan Peninsula Greece is located

Geography of Greece

Balkan Peninsula • Greece is located on the Balkan Peninsula • Peninsula- A piece of land almost surrounded by water but is connected to the mainland

Anatolian Peninsula (Asia Minor) • The westernmost part of Asia • The modern-day country of Turkey • Was home to many Greek Colonies like the city of Troy

Crete • The largest and most populous Greek island – Located in the Aegean Sea • About 160 miles long and 40 miles wide • Home of the first civilization in Europe… the Minoans

Mediterranean Sea • The Mediterranean Sea links 3 continents: – Europe, Africa, and Asia • Connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Strait of Gibraltar – A strait is a small passage of water that connects to larger bodies of water – EX. Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean

Aegean Sea • Located between Greece and the Anatolian Peninsula – East of Greece – Has bright green water • Over 1, 000 islands – Archipelago- A chain or cluster of islands

Mr. Cramer’s Greek Pics - Hydra

Mr. Cramer’s Greek Pics - Hydra

Black Sea • Connects much of Asia to Europe and Africa • Many Greek colonies were made on this sea • Connect to Aegean Sea by a strait

Ionian Sea • Borders the west part of Greece • In between Greece and Italy • The water here is a deep blue – It is a smaller part of the Mediterranean Sea

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Corinth • To go from the Aegean to the Mediterranean you must past through the canal in Corinth

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Corinth • Corinth has some of the most preserved and famous Temples from Ancient Greece

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Corinth • This picture of the “Bema” is where the apostle Paul talked to Corinthians in the Bible

Mt. Olympus • The highest mountain in Greece – 9, 500 feet tall • Home of the 12 Olympian Gods of Greek of Mythology

Athens • The capital and largest city of Greece • Named after the Greek Goddess “Athena” • The birthplace of Democracy • Today, over 3 million people live in Athens

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Acropolis view of Athens

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Acropolis Entrance

Mr. Cramer’s Pics – Acropolis: Parthenon

Sparta • A dominant military power in Ancient Greece – Sparta concentrated on military strength rather than arts and democracy like Athens • Located on the southern island of Peloponnesus

Athens and Sparta