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Asiatic Russia: Islands

This kingdom, geographically, is a large and irregular peninsula of S.-E. Europe, extends into the Mediterranean Sea, and is washed on its E. and W. shores by the Ægean and Ionian Seas respectively. European Turkey adjoins its N. boundary lines, from the Gulf of Vola to the Gulf of Arta, while at the S. is the magnificent Mediterranean. Including its group of Islands it extends from lat. 36° 10' to 39° 50' N., and long. 19° 30' to 26° 30' E. The country is divided into 3 grand divisions, the continental portion, or Hellas, on the N., which was in former times the Turkish province of Livadia; in the S. the peninsula of Morea, anciently termed the Peloponnesus, and which, while under Turkish rule, was called Tripolitza, which is nearly cut off from the mainland by the sea at the Isthmus of Corinth; and the group of Islands in the Ægean Sea, and the Ionian Islands. There is scarcely a section of the country that is not mountainous. One of the most important ranges is the Pindus, entering the country at the N. and crossing at its centre, and which formed a natural boundary between ancient Epirus and Thessaly. At the S. it divides into 2 branches, 1 of which stretching S.-E. through Central Greece, and bearing the names of Eta, Parnassus, Helicon, Cithæron, and Hymettus, finally terminates at the extremity of Attica; while the other runs S.-W. under the name of Corax and the Ozolian mountains, and terminates near the W. end of the Corinthian Gulf. In the Peloponnesus the mountains are entirely different from those of the Pindus, being divided into knobs and groups, and clustered about a lofty central mass, which in N. Arcadia rises to a height of 8000 ft. The principal peaks of Greece are: Mount Olympus (9754 ft.), Ossa (6407), and Pelion (5000), Parnassus, the highest summit in Central Greece (8068), Eta (7071), Helicon (5000), Citharon (4620), Parnes (4193), Cyllene (7788), Erymanthus (7297), Taygetus (7904). The mountain system has always played a very important part in the political history of Greece, prescribing the boundaries of states almost as definitely as could be done by the most exact treaties. The coasts of Greece are high, very irregular, and deeply indented. There is a multiplicity of gulfs of large and small dimensions, nearly all of which are celebrated in the history of the country. The principal of these are Vola, Arta, Patras, Lepanto (or Corinth), the Saronic Gulf (Ægina), Nauplia, Koron, Messenia, and Arcadia. The capes of prominence are Marathon, Colonna (or Sumain), Skropha, Skillo, Matia, Matapan, Gallo, and Clarentza, on the Morea. There is very little importance attached to the rivers of Greece, save for their historic associations. In the summer months many of them are dry, and none are navigable. The principle rivers are the Aspro Potamo (Achelous), Peneus, Cephissus, Phidaris, Alpheus, Eurotas, and Hellada. Small lakes are numerous, and there are several of noteworthy size: the Nessonis, Trichonis, Topolias (Copais), and Stymphalus. The Topolias is the most extensive.

AREA AND POPULATION. - Greece at the last census, had a population of 1,- 979,453 living on an area of 24,977 sq. m. The kingdom is divided into 13 Nomes or Nomarchies, and subdivided into 59 Eparchies. The Nomarchies are: Northern Greece, Attica and Bœotia, Phocis and Phthiotis, Acarnania and Ætolia, Peloponnesus, Argolis and Corinth, Achaia and Elis, Arcadia, Messenia, and Laconia; islands Eubœa, Sporades, Cyclades, Corfu, Zante, and Kephalonia. Zante is the smallest of the islands, Eubea and Sporades the largest. The nationality of the inhabitants is 6