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Greece (Greek Hellas), officially known as the Hellenic Republic (Ellinikí Dimokratía), country in southeastern Europe, occupying the southernmost part of the Balkan Peninsula. Famed for the beauty of its landscape, Greece is dominated by mountains and sea. The Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian seas constitute the countrys eastern, southern, and western borders, and no part of mainland Greece is more than 100 km (60 mi) from the water. Islands constitute about one-fifth of the countrys land area.The Aegean Sea surrounds the islands of the Grecian Archipelago and separates the Greek mainland from its eastern neighbor, Turkey. Cruise ships are common in the Aegean, bringing visitors to islands such as Thíra to enjoy charming towns, sunny weather, and inviting beaches. Small fishing fleets still cruise the area, but a drastic reduction in the catch (due largely to pollution and overfishing) has seriously hurt the fishing industry. Seafood is now imported into Greece to meet domestic demands. Greece has historically been poor with inadequate communications, but in the period after World War II ended in 1945 it has experienced rapid economic and social change. Tourism and shipping make major contributions to the Greek economy, which has also benefited from payments arising from Greeces membership in the European Union (EU). The countrys merchant ship fleet is one of the largest in the world. Greeces capital and largest city is  Zakynthos - Laganas
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