| Continental/Central Greece Στερεά/Κεντρική Ελλάδα |
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| — Region of Greece — | |
| Continental Greece within Greece | |
| Capital | Athens |
| Subdivisions | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 24,818.3 km2 (9,582.4 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 4,591,568 (2,001 census) |
| • Density | 185/km2 (479.1/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Stereoelladites, Roumeliotes |
Continental Greece (Greek: Στερεά Ελλάδα - Stereá Elláda, earlier Χέρσος Ελλάς - Chérsos Ellás) or Central Greece (Greek: Κεντρική Ελλάδα - Kentrikí Elláda), colloquially known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), is a geographical region of Greece. Its territory is divided into the administrative regions of Central Greece, Attica, and part of West Greece (Aetolia-Acarnania). Although Attica is part of the geographical region of Central Greece, it has recently been considered a separate region in itself.
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The region has traditionally been known as Roúmeli (Ρούμελη), a name deriving from the Turkish word Rumelia or Rumeli, meaning "the land of the Rum [the Romans, i.e. the Byzantine Greeks]". The official name Stereá Elláda ("Continental" or "Mainland" Greece), derives from the juxtaposition with the Peloponnese peninsula across the Corinthian Gulf, and the fact that these two territories formed the independent Greek state in 1832.
Central Greece is the most populous geographical region of Greece, with a population of 4,591,568 people, and covers an area of 24,818.3 km², making it the second largest of the country. It is located to the north of the Peloponnese and to the south of Thessaly and Epirus, bordering the Aegean Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the west and the Corinthian Gulf to the south. Its climate is temperate along its coastlines, and dry in the interior.
The region is one of the most mountainous in Greece, having some of the highest elevations in the country.
| Number | Mountain | Height (m) | Placed in Greece |
Prefecture |
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| 1 | Giona |
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Phocis |
| 2 | Vardousia |
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Phocis |
| 3 | Parnassus |
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Phocis, Boeotia |
| 4 | Tymfristos |
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Evrytania, Phthiotis |
| 5 | Oeta |
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Phthiotis |
Central Greece has also some of the largest lakes in Greece, while amongst the most important is Mornos lake in Phocis, which supplies water around the prefecture, parts of the Phthiotis and Boeotia prefectures and Athens as well.
| Number | Lake | Area (km²) | Placed in Greece |
Prefecture |
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| 1 | Trichonida |
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Aetolia-Acarnania |
| 2 | Yliki |
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Boeotia |
| 3 | Amvrakia |
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Aetolia-Acarnania |
| 4 | Lysimachia |
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Aetolia-Acarnania |
| 5 | Ozeros |
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Aetolia-Acarnania |
Some important and well known rivers of Central Greece are Acheloos in Aetolia-Acarnania which is the second longest of the country, Spercheios in Phthiotis, Evenus in Aetolia-Acarnania and Mornos in Phocis.
The principal cities of the region of Central Greece according to the census of 2001 are:
Roumelian dances tend to be slow and controlled. The clarinet is the main instrument in this region. The main dances of this region are tsamikos (an ancient warrior dance, in which the leader performs energetic leaps), mazochto and kangeli.
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