Wildlife of Greece

The climate ranges from Mediterranean through temperate to alpine, and the habitats include mountains, hills, forests, rivers, lakes, coasts and cultivated land.

Greece is a country in the Balkan Peninsula of southern Europe, and lies to the south of Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, and west of Turkey.

The largest mountain group is the Pindus Range which forms the spine of the Greek mainland, with the highest peak rising to 2,637 m (8,652 ft) above sea level.

The large Peloponnese peninsula, in the south of the country, is separated from the rest of the Greek mainland by the Corinthian and Saronic Gulfs, but joined by the Isthmus of Corinth.

[7] The island of Gyaros is the breeding area for the largest population of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal,[8] and about fifteen species of whales, dolphins and porpoises are reported in Greek waters.

Beside the resident bird populations, many migratory species visit the country as they move seasonally between their breeding grounds and their overwintering areas.

[13] Greece's rivers are brimming with aquatic wildlife too, with a diverse range of endemic freshwater fishes, around 160 species were listed in 2015.