Central Greece

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.

This article is about the geographic region of Central Greece. For the administrative region, see Central Greece (region). For the NUTS 1 statistical region, see Kentriki Ellada.
Continental / Central Greece
Στερεά / Κεντρική Ελλάδα
Traditional region of Greece
Continental Greece (blue) within Greece
Continental Greece (blue) within Greece
CapitalAthens
Subdivisions
List
Area
 • 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.

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
Mount Parnassus
Nafpaktos

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.

Mountains

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

NumberMountainHeight (m)Ranking
in Greece		Regional unit
1Giona
2,510
5th
Phocis
2Vardousia
2,495
7th
Phocis
3Parnassus
2,457
9th
Phocis, Boeotia
4Tymfristos
2,315
16th
Evrytania, Phthiotis
5Oeta
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.

NumberLakeArea (km2)Ranking
in Greece		Regional unit
1Trichonida
96.513
1st
Aetolia-Acarnania
2Yliki
22.731
9th
Boeotia
3Amvrakia
13.619
13th
Aetolia-Acarnania
4Lysimachia
13.200
14th
Aetolia-Acarnania
5Ozeros
10.013
16th
Aetolia-Acarnania

Rivers
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.

Cities
Lamia

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)
  • Lamia
58,601
57,147
53,584
21,211
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 (in which the leader performs energetic leaps) and kleftiko, both influenced by the Arvanites of the region.

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