The Region of Center Greece (Στερεά Ελλάδα) is found in the centre of the country, borders to north on Thessalia, to west on Western Greece and to south on Attica. Its eastern border is the Aegean Sea and the Eubean Gulf and its southern border is the Corinthian Gulf. It is constituted by the prefectures of Viotia, Evia, Evrytania, Fthiotida and Fokida. It occupies a total extent of 15.549 square kilometres (percentage of 11,8% of total extent of the country). The headquarters are located in Lamia, capital of prefecture Fthiotida. The Region of Sterea Ellada has developed agriculture, livestock-farming and tourist resources that are suitable for the combination of tourism during the winter, tourism by the sea, therapeutic baths and rural tourism winter.
The bigger department of the Region is mountainous or hemi-mountainous (percentage 47,4% and 31,8% of respectively total extent), while flat is only the 20,8% of the extent. The mountainous regions of the Region are one of most unfavourable of the country.
The subsoil of Sterea Ellada is rich in layers of metal (magnesite, nickel, bauxite, dolomite), in marble and chromium, which are not developed sufficiently.
The population of the Region of Sterea Ellada amounts in 605.329 residents according to the official Inventory of Population of National Statistical Service of Greece for 2001 and corresponds in the 5,52% of the total population of Greece.
Capital: Athens
Large cities: Halkida, Lamia, Messologi
The Saronic Gulf which is the stretch of sea linking the shores of Attica to those of the Peloponnese, contains a further group of small islands (Salamina, Aegina, Poros, Hydra and Spetses) which adds its variety to the general surroundings.
