Greece’s Topography: Mountains, Valleys, Coasts, and Islands

Mountains (80% of Land)

• Pindus Range: “Spine of Greece,” N–S through mainland.
• Rhodope Mts (NE): Border with Bulgaria.
• Olympus (Central): Highest peak (Mytikas, 2,917 m); mythic home of gods.
• Peloponnese ranges: Taygetos, Parnon, Kyllini.

Valleys & Plains

• Thessaly Plain: Breadbasket, drained by Pineios.
• Valley of Tempe: Narrow gorge between Olympus & Ossa.
• Spercheios Valley: Central Greece.
• Peloponnese plains: Argos, Sparta, Elis.

Rivers

• Evros (Maritsa): Greece–Turkey border, largest discharge.
• Axios (Vardar): North, flows to Thermaic Gulf.
• Aliakmon: Longest entirely in Greece (297 km).
• Pineios, Achelous, Eurotas.

Lakes

• Trichonida: Largest natural (98 km²).
• Pamvotis (Ioannina): Island castle.
• Stymphalia: Mythic (Stymphalian birds).

Coastline & Islands

• 13,676 km coastline (11th globally).
• Gulfs: Corinth (separates Peloponnese), Patras, Euboea, Messinia.
• Peninsulas: Peloponnese, Chalkidiki, Attica, Mani.
• 6,000+ islands (227 inhabited).