Central Greece

Continental Greece (Στερεά Ελλάδα - Stereá Elláda, earlier Χέρσος Ελλάς) or Central Greece (Κεντρική Ελλάδα - Kentrikí Elláda), for a time known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the peripheries of Central Greece, Attica, and one prefecture of West Greece. However, Attica is not always included in the region of Central Greece, but has recently been considered a separate region itself.

Etymology

The region has traditionally been known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), a name deriving from the Turkish word Rumelia or Rumeli, meaning "the land of the Rum [the Romans, i.e. the Byzantine Greeks]". The official name Stereá Elláda ("Continental" or "Mainland" Greece), derives from the fact that Central Greece was, along with the Peloponnese peninsula, the first region to form the modern Greek state.

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, 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.

Mountains

The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country.

Number	Mountain	Height (m)	Placed in Greece	Prefecture
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	22th	Phthiotis

Lakes

Central Greece has also some of the largest lakes in Greece, while amongst the most important is Mornos lake in Phocis, which supplies water around the prefecture, parts of the Phthiotis and Boeotia prefectures and Athens as well.

Number	Lake	Area (km²)	Placed in Greece	Prefecture
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 Acheloos in Aetolia-Acarnania which is the second longest of the country, Spercheios in Phthiotis, Evenus in Aetolia-Acarnania and 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 metropolitan area)
• icluding all the towns around Athens urban area
• ::3,761,810)
• Chalkida

53,584

• Lamia

46,406

• Agrinio

42,390

• Thebes

21,211

• Livadeia

20,061

Culture

Roumelian music and dances

Roumelian dances tend to be slow and controlled. The clarinet is the main instrument in this region. The main dances of this region are Tsamikos (an ancient warrior dance, in which the leader performs energetic leaps), Mazochto and Kangeli.

See also

• Central Greece (periphery)

External links

• www.stereaellada.gr