Macedonia is Greece's largest prefecture (similar to a province) and contains the country's second largest city, Thessalonika founded in 315 BC by King Kassandros. Today it is a thriving cosmopolitan city. Macedonia is the heart of the ancient Hellenistic empire and the homeland of Alexander the Great. It was capture by the Turks in 1430, who held it until 1912.
Macedonia and neighbouring Thrace have a cooler damper climate than the rest of Greece, and consequently, richer flora. Between Macedonia and the rest of Greece is mount Olympos, the country's highest mountain. In the Northwest are the Prespa Lakes, part of a wildlife reserve. In the east is the holy Mount Athos, said to have been visted by Mary, who declare it sacred and forbade any other woman to set foot on it ( I will be climbing *that mountain when I graduate!). There is also another Macedonia known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This area lies to the north of the province of Macedonia, and was once part of Alexander's Empire although they are a Slavic not Greek people. The use of the name 'Macedonia' by the FYROM is the subject of hot debate. Type 'Macedonia' in the search engine at Yahoo and you will see what I mean!
This webpage created by Elizabeth Van Rij