Greece - Korina Miller [56]
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Greece is the most seismically active country in Europe, with more than half of the continent’s volcanic activity.
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Greece is short on rivers, with none that are navigable. The largest are the Aheloös, Aliakmonas, Aoös and Arahthos, all of which have their source in the Pindos Mountains of Epiros. The long plains of the river valleys, and those between the mountains and the coast, form Greece’s only lowlands. The mountainous terrain, dry climate and poor soil leave farmers at a loss and less than a quarter of the land is cultivated. Greece is, however, rich in minerals, with reserves of oil, manganese, bauxite and lignite.
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WILDLIFE
Animals
Greece’s relationship with its fauna has not been a happy one. Hunting of wild animals is a popular activity with Greeks as a means of providing food. This is particularly true in mountainous regions where the partisanship of hunters is legendary. Despite signs forbidding hunting, Greek hunters often shoot freely at any potential game. This can include rare and endangered species, however the main game is often wild boars which have been around since antiquity. Considered destructive and cunning animals, the number of wild boars has increased in recent decades, likely due to a lower number of predators. Many argue that hunting is an important means of culling them. There are also an increasing number of wild boar breeding farms and you will find boar on many menus.
In areas widely inhabited by humans, you are unlikely to spot any wild animals other than the odd fox, weasel, hare or rabbit scurrying out of your way. The more remote mountains of northern Greece support a wide range of wildlife including decreasing populations of brown bear and gold jackal which survive in Epiros and Macedonia. The grey wolf also lives here while wild dogs and shepherds’ dogs with bad attitudes often roam the higher pastures on grazing mountains and should be given a wide berth if encountered.
Greece has an active snake population and in spring and summer you will inevitably spot these wriggling reptiles on roads and pathways all over the country. Fortunately the majority are harmless, though the viper and the coral snake can cause fatalities (Click here). Lizards are in abundance and there is hardly a dry-stone wall without one of these curious creatures clambering around.
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Wolves have never been popular creatures in Greece. In many Greek myths, the bad guy was turned into a wolf as punishment; in others, wolves were frequently the villains.
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Birdwatchers have a field day in Greece as the country is on many north–south migratory paths. Lesvos (Mytilini) in particular draws a regular following of birders from all of Europe who come to spot some of more than 279 recorded species that stop off at the island annually. Storks are more visible visitors, arriving in early spring from Africa and returning to the same nests year after year. These are built on electricity poles, chimney tops and church towers, and can weigh up to 50kg; keep an eye out for them in northern Greece, especially in Thrace.
Lake Mikri Prespa in Macedonia has the richest colony of fish-eating birds in Europe, including species such as egrets, herons, cormorants and ibises, as well as the rare Dalmatian pelican – Turkey and Greece are now the only countries in Europe where this large bird is found. The wetlands at the mouth of the Evros River, close to the border with Turkey, are home to two easily identifiable wading birds – the avocet, which has a long curving beak, and the black-winged stilt,