Macedonia is one of the geographic regions of continental Greece

LIVE MAP CLICK ON AREA

Macedonia
Macedonia is one of the geographic regions of continental Greece and constitutes the southern and larger part of the wider geographic and historical region of Macedonia. Today it constitutes the northern larger geographic and historical region (25,9% of all extent) of the Greek territory. Macedonia borders with The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (The FYROM) and Bulgaria in the north, southerly with Thessaly and the Aegean Sea, easterly with Western Thrace and westwards it borders with Epirus and Albania.

The self-governed monastic community of Athos, one of the important centres of Orthodoxy worldwide is found in Macedonia, as well as the city of Thessalonica, the metropolis and main city of Macedonia and Northern Greece.

GEOGRAPHY
Generally speaking, as it was mentioned previously, Macedonia is the largest geographic region of Northern Greece, including 34.231 square kilometres with a population which rises to 2.625.681 residents.   The region is known for its rich history, engrossed in the depths of fables. According to one of many versions, Macedonia’s name derived from the name of one of its founders, the grandson of Deucalion, whose name was Macedon. 

The area is divided into thirteen prefectures: Prefecture of Thessalonica with its capital the city of Thessalonica, Pieria with its capital Katerini, Imathia with its capital Veria, Kozani with its capital Kozani, Grevena with its capital Grevena, Kastoria with its capital the city of Kastoria, Florinis with its capital Florina, Prefecture of Pella with capital the city of Edessa, Kilkis with its capital Kilkis, Chalkidiki with its capital Polygyros, Serres with its capital Serres, Drama with its capital the city of Drama and the Prefecture of Kavala with capital the  city of Kavala.

Macedonian Geography
Ground: A large section of the area is covered by mountains; the total percentage of its extent can be illustrated as follows:  34,7% of its area is flat, 25,9% is hilly and 39,4% mountainous.

Mountains:
The mountain ranges of Macedonia are endings of large mountainous volumes found outside of the Greek borders. The names of some of its mountain ranges are: 

Agistron 1.295m, Athos 2.033m, Avgo (Northern Pindos 2.177m, Falakro 2.232m, Grammos 2.520m, Hasia 1.565m, Hortiatis 1.201m, Kaimaktsalan 2.524m, Mayrovouni 1.179m, Menikio 1.963m, Mpelles 1.883m, Olympus, Olympos 2.917m, Orvilos 2.212m, Paggaio 1.956m, Paiko 1.650m, Pieria 2.190m, Syniatsiko (Askion) 2.111m, Varnous 2.334m, Vassilitsa 2.249m, Vermio 2.052m, Vitsi (Vernon) 2.128m, Voio 1.802m, Vourinos 1.866m

Plains:

Macedonia is enhanced with a multitude of fertile plains. They are extended in the length of her rivers and are separated by her long mountain ranges. The largest flat area is the plain of Hrisoupolis in the Prefecture of Kavala; another one is the plain of Drama in the homonym prefecture, the plain of Strimonas in the Prefecture of Serres. The plains Kilkis, Thessalonica, Giannitsa, Veria, Edessa, Katerini and Chalkidiki can be found in the homonym prefectures.

Plateaus:

The western part of Macedonia is also a most mountainous area with plateaus extending between the mountain ranges. Most plateaus important are the plateau of Florina, Ptolemaida, Kozani, Kastoria and Grevena.

Forests:

The forests in Macedonia cover more than 25% of her surface and they extend on the mountains of Western Macedonia and between the borders with Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. The trees that dominate the area are oaks, beech trees and pine trees.

Mining Wealth:

The subsoil of Macedonia is rich in mining wealth. The main minerals that are found are chromium iron, chromium nickel alloy, and granulite. In smaller quantities exist layers of asbestos and copper.

Climate:

In the Macedonian coastlines the climate is mild and has the characteristics of Mediterranean climate.  Advancing into the interior however, which is isolated by the beneficial effect of the Aegean Sea and being surrounded by extended mountain ranges, the climate becomes continental.

Rivers:

The main rivers which irrigate the fertile plains of Macedonia are: River Nestos, which springs in Bulgarian territory and extends 143 km length in Greek territory, River Strimonas which also originates in Bulgaria and extends 104 km length in Greek territory, Aggitis is tributary of Strimonas, Gallikos River which springs from Croatia and has a length of 73 km, Aksios which springs in Yugoslavia and extends to 82 km in Greek territory, Loudias and Aliakmonas Rivers, both springing from Grammos mountain range and extending to 314 km.

Lakes:

A number of lakes can be found in Macedonia: Kerkini Lake which takes its shape from the course of River Strimonas, Doirani Lake which is found in the border between Greece and The FYROM, Lake of Lagkada (Koronia), Volvi Lake, Vegoritis, Lake of Kastoria,Lake Petron, Lake Hemaditis and the Prespes (Small and Big Prespa).

Coasts:

The peninsula of Chalkidiki in Central Macedonia is a well-known seacoast spot, famous for its beaches that lead to three smaller peninsulas, shaping the Gulf of Kassandra and the Gulf of Sigritiko. In Eastern Macedonia the Kavala Gulf can be found with Cape Keramon opposing the island of Thassos.

Macedonian Economy:

Macedonia is one of the richer regions of Greece. Its geophysical outline divides the area in three regions: Westerner, Central and Eastern Macedonia. Each region has its own economic structure. Central Macedonia is the richer and most efficient region. It includes the most bountiful plain of the country, that of Thessalonica, supplying the whole country with its produce. Livestock farming, even though it is adequately developed, it plays a secondary role in this area. Central Macedonia is considered one of the first industrial regions of the country, with main centers Thessalonica, Veria, Edessa and Naoussa.

Eastern Macedonia is a tobacco-growing region. Here is produced first quality tobacco, known well all over the world. Also livestock-farming is developed, mainly that of big animals. The inferior terrain of Western Macedonia and the relatively difficult climatic conditions, do not allow efficient cultivation of the land.  Therefore agricultural activities are combined with the advanced livestock farming.  Fishery is also developed in the region. Seafaring fishery does not exist in this part of the land because Western Macedonia is landlocked; Fishery however exists in Macedonia’s sweet waters (lakes, rivers).

Macedonian Art:

Macedonia in the last two centuries of Ottoman domination was the second center in craft production after Epirus. It produced all types of popular art and guilds. The main productive and commercial activity in Macedonia however, began in 1865, when the French Consulate was established in Thessalonica, thus establishing commercial transactions with Marseille, France. During 18th and 19th centuries the major industry in the area was textile. The workmanship of silver was developed in north-western Macedonia using mainly the techniques of Filgranou and Savatiou. The center of copper plating was Thessalonica and Kastoria became the famous center where the art of fur making was developed.

During the period of the Ottoman dominion and mainly around the 17^th century AD, the Macedonian architecture became quite distinct.  The houses of Macedonia were distinguished by certain basic characteristics. The walls of the ground floor were made with stone and they were tied up with timber, while the walls in the remainder floors were wooden. In the ground floor we have few and small windows, while in the remainder floors the windows were numerous. The spaces are constructed around a big central space and interconnected with wooden colonnades or with doors. The interior was built with timber.

Macedonian History: The whole story
 

Quotes:
 "For I (Alexander I) myself am by ancient descent a Greek, and I would not willingly see Hellas change her freedom for slavery." (Herod. IX, 45, 2 [Loeb])

 "Tell your king (Xerxes), who sent you, how his Greek viceroy (Alexander I) of Macedonia has received you hospitably."  (Herod. V, 20, 4 [Loeb])
 

 "Now, that these descendants of Perdiccas are Greeks, as they themselves say, I myself chance to know." (Herod. V, 22, 1 [Loeb])
 

The country by the sea which is now called Macedonia... Alexander, the father of Perdiccas, and his forefathers, who were originally Temenidae from Argos"
(Thucydides 99,3 (Loeb, C F Smith)
 
"But Alexander (I), proving himself to be an Argive, was judged to be a Greek;
so he contended in the furlong race and ran a dead heat for first place."
(Herod. V, 22, 2)

 "The Macedonian people and their kings were of Greek stock, as their traditions and the scanty remains of their language combine to testify."  
` {John Bagnell Bury, "A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great", 2nd ed.(1913)

"Clearly, the language of the ancient Macedonians was Greek"
{Prof. John C. Roumans Professor Emeritus of Classics Wisconsin University}

 "There is no doubt,  that Macedonians were Greeks."
(Robin Lane Fox "Historian-Author" In  Interview with newspaper TO BHMA)

"Bulgarian historians say FYROMians are of Bulgarian origin and their language developed from a Bulgarian dialect," which Skopje denies. But Sofia was also the first country to recognize FYROM's independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991 and now favours its joining the EU. (August 2006 AFP)

"Every FYROMIAN national who does not claim Albanian or Serbian origin has the right to declare a Bulgarian origin." This is an individual act in accordance with the historical reality of our common ethnic origin,”
According to: Stefan Nikolov of the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad. (August 2006 AFP)

The speech of Alexander I, when he was admitted to the Olympic games
"Men of Athens...
Had I not greatly at heart the common welfare of Hellas I should not have come to tell you; but I am myself Hellene by descent, and I would not willingly see Hellas exchange freedom for slavery....
If you prosper in this war, forget not to do something for my freedom; consider the risk I have run, out of zeal for the Hellenic cause, to acquaint you with what Mardonius intends, and to save you from being surprised by the barbarians.
I am Alexander of Macedon."
(Herodotus, The Histories, 9.45)