nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Hellenic Republic

Greece

Elliniki Dhimokratia (long)
Ellas or Ellada (short)

Kingdom of Greece

Greek(s) (noun) Ellas or Ellada (adjective)

Greek 99% (official), other 1% (includes English and French)

Athens

parliamentary republic

10,722,816 ranked 76, (data 2008)

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands. The lowest point is Mediterranean Sea 0 m.

Coastline 13,676 km.

1,228km, Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km.

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)