KENTRIKI MAKEDONIA - Geography and history
Central Macedonia is the land of Philippos and Alexander the Great, with great historical and cultural riches. It is home to the self-governing monastic republic of Athos (or the Holy Mountain), with its inestimable orthodox heritage. Its geographical and strategic position has made it a crossroads for trade with the Balkan countries and Eastern Europe. It is northern Greece's leading region and takes in the central part of Macedonia, comprising the nomí of Thessaloniki, Imathia, Kilkis, Pella, Pieria, Serres and Chalkidiki.
It is bounded by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, by the region of Western Macedonia to the west, by the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace to the east and by the Aegean to the south. In demographic, economic and cultural terms it is Greece's second most important centre after Attica. The regional capital is Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. The region is low-lying, and the Macedonian plain is one of the largest in Greece and exceptionally fertile.
The combination of vast plains, wooded mountains, great rivers, a coastline and archaeological and historic monuments lend variety to the landscape. The region has a satisfactory communications network, and has extensive road and rail links with the rest of Greece and Europe. Thessaloniki also has Greece's third largest international airport and the country's second port.
A strategically well-located region
Central Macedonia is one of Greece's foremost producers of fruit, with some 65% of total production. As regards livestock rearing, the region is one of the country's largest producers of dairy products, while its cattle account for 37% of Greece's total. Industry is well established and has the twin advantages of being a post-war development, so that plant and management methods are relatively modern, and of having developed away from the urban areas.
The strategic position of the region is becoming increasingly important in the wake of developments in the neighbouring Balkan countries and Eastern Europe. With Thessaloniki as its centre, the region is now in a position to make a name for itself as a major economic centre, exploiting business opportunities in a market of some 110 million consumers.
It constitutes the basic axis for north-south and east-west communications and could become a major transit and trade centre for a wide area. It is an important port for both the Balkans and the eastern Mediterranean, having a free zone and accounting for some 50% of Greece's total exports.
Finally, the natural beauty of the region, together with its historical, cultural and religious heritage, make it a major centre for winter and summer tourism. On the other hand, the unchecked development of tourism ? particularly in Chalkidiki ? has seriously affected the environment.
Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki; conurbation and holiday resort
In and around the Thessaloniki conurbation there is a concentration of population and economic activities, particularly in the fields of manufacturing, commerce and culture.
In the western parts of Central Macedonia agricultural production predominates, and manufacturing activities are closely linked to agriculture.
Tourist development is centred largely on Chalkidiki, whose natural beauty has made it the region's summer resort. However, the environment has suffered as a result of unchecked tourist development, and land prices and the cost of living have both increased.
Central and northeastern Chalkidiki is an area of intensive quarrying activity. However, there is little development potential in this sector.
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