| ????S GREECE
Background Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories with Greek-speaking populations. Following the defeat of Communist rebels in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the King to flee the country, lasted seven years. Democratic elections in 1974 and a referendum created a Parliamentary Republic and abolished the monarchy; Greece joined the European Community, or EC, in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992).
Flag Description Nine equal horizontal strips 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.
Prefectures of Greece Greece consists of 13 administrative regions known as peripheries, which subdivide further into the 51 prefectures (nomoi - nomos). The official regions and prefectures are listed below. In practice, sometimes islands may be assigned to different groups, but from the government perspective, this is where they belong. Attiki
(Attica, Attika)
ATT Attiki
Attica is where Athens is located. | Peloponnisos
(Peloponnese Peninsula, Peloponnesus)
AHA Ahaia
KOR Korinthos
ARG Argos
ARK Arkadia
LAK Lakonia Kentriki Ellada
(Central Greece)
EVT Evritania
FTH Fthiotida
FOK Fokida
BOI Viotia
EVI Evia Ditiki Ellada
(West Greece)
AIT Etoloakarnania (Aetoloakarnania)
AHA Ahaia (Achaia)
ILI Ilia Thessalia
(Thessaly)
TRI Trikala
KAR Karditsa
LAR Larisa
MAG Magnisia Ipiros
(Epirus)
IOA Ioannina
THP Thesprotia
PRE Preveza
ART Arta Ditiki Makedonia
(West Macedonia)
FLO Florina
KOZ Kozani
KAS Kastoria
GRE Grevena |
Kentriki Makedonia
(Central Macedonia)
SER Serres
HAL Halkidiki
KIL Kilkis
THE Thessaloniki
PEL Pella
HMA Imathia
PIE Pieria Anatoliki Makedonia kai Thraki
(East Macedonia and Thrace)
EVR Evros
ROD Rodopi
XAN Xanthi
DRA Drama
KAV Kavala Vorio Egeo
(North Aegean)
LES Lesvos
HIO Hios
SAM Samos Notio Egeo
(South Aegean)
KYK Kyklades (Cyclades, Cycladic isles)
DOD Dodekanisos (Dodecanese) Ionio
(Ionian islands)
KER Kerkyra
LEF Lefkada
KEF Kefalinia
ZAK Zakynthos Kriti
(Crete)
HAN Hania (Chania)
RET Rethimno
HRA Iraklion (Heraklion)
LAS Lasithi | Beyond these, one autonomous region exists: Mount Athos (Agio Oros - Holy Mountain), a monastic state under Greek sovereignty. Additionally, the 51 nomoi subdivide into 147 eparchies (singular eparchia), which contain 1,033 municipalities and communities: 900 urban municipalities (demoi) and 133 rural communities (koinotetes). Before 1999, Greece's local government structure featured 5,775 local authorities: 457 demoi and 5,318 koinotetes, subdivided into 12,817 localities (oikismoi).
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