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Bengal cat – Wikipedia

The Bengal cat is a domesticated cat breed created from hybrids of domestic cats, especially the spotted Egyptian Mau, with the Asian leopard cat ( Prionailurus bengalensis ). The name of the breed comes from the taxonomic name of the leopard cat.

Bengals have a wild appearance; their golden shimmer comes from their leopard cat ancestors, and their coats may have spots, rosettes, arrowhead marks, or marbling. This is an energetic breed that requires a lot of exercise and play.

Contents

• 1 History
  • 1.1 Early history
  • 1.2 Bengals as a breed Our cats and everything about them . ^[1]

    The next recorded mention of a cross between an Asian leopard cat and a domestic cat was in 1924 by the Belgian Scientific Journal, and in 1941 a Japanese publication on cats published an article about a cat kept as a pet. ^[2]

    The first breeding attempts always stopped after one or two generations. Jean Mill was a breeder who decided to make a domestic cat with the fur of a wild cat.

    Bengals as a breed

    Jean Sugden Mill holding a Bengal cat in an undated photograph.

    Gene Mill of California is considered the creator of the modern Bengal breed. She had a degree in psychology from Pomona College and took several courses in genetics at UC Davis. ^[3]

    She made the first known deliberate crossbreeding of an Asian leopard cat with a domestic cat (a black California cat). ^[4] However, Bengals as a breed actually started in earnest much later. ^[3] In 1970, Mill resumed her breeding efforts, and in 1975 she received a group of Bengal cats that were bred for use in genetic testing at Loma Linda University by Willard Centerwall. ^[5] Others also started breeding Bengals. ^{[ WHO? ]}

    Cat Registries

    In 1983, the breed was officially accepted by the International Cat Association (TICA). ^[5] Bengals gained championship status in 1991. ^[6]

    In 1997, the Cat Fancy Governing Council (GCCF) accepts Bengal cats. ^[7]

    In 1999, the Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) accepted Bengal cats into its registry. ^[8]

    B The Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) was one of the last organizations to accept the Bengal cat into its registry. The CFA board accepted the Bengal cat as Miscellaneous at a board meeting on February 7, 2016. For a Bengal cat to be registered with the CFA, it must be F6 or later (6 generations removed from the Asian Leopard Cat or non-Bengal domestic cat’s feline ancestors).” ^[9]

    In 1999, the Australian Cat Federation (ACF) accepted the Bengal cat into its registry. ^[10]

    Charcoal Bengal kitten with white spectacle markings and black rosettes.

    Early generation Bengal

    Bengals from the first three generations of breeding (F1 – F3) are considered “founder cats” or “early generation” Bengals. Early generation (F1 – F3) males are often sterile. Thus, female F1, F2 and F3 early generation Bengals are bred to fertile domestic Bengals. ^[4] F1 hybrid Bengal females are fertile, so they are used in subsequent unidirectional reverse cross matings with fertile male domestic cats. Some male Bengals have produced viable sperm as early as the F2 backcross generation: this is considered rare in breeding communities that regularly cross early generation females with fertile late generation hybrid males. ^[11]

    To be considered a domestic Bengal cat in major cat registries, a Bengal cat must be at least four generations (F4) or more from an Asian Leopard cat. ^[12]

    Popularity

    The Bengal breed was more fully developed by the 1980s. “In 1992, the International Cat Association had 125 registered Bengal Breeders.” ^[4] By the 2000s, Bengals had become a very popular breed. In 2019, there are over 1,000 Bengal breeders worldwide.

    Bengal breeding growth

    Year

    Bengal breeders registered with TICA Bengals come in a wide variety of coat colors. [14] [15] The International Cat Association (TICA) recognizes several Bengal colors. Brown spotted, lynx point seal (snow), sepia, silver and mink spotted Striped Bengals. [16] Spotted rosette Bengal kitten in a bed with black and white rosettes reaches out to explore the camera. The Bengal cat is the only domestic cat breed that has a rosette marking. People most often associate the Bengal with the most popular color: the Brown Spotted/Pink Bengal. However, Bengals have a wide variety of colors and patterns. Even in the brown spot/rosette category, bengals can be: red, brown, black, ticked, grey, spotted, rosette, cloudy. Many people are struck by the resemblance of a Bengal cat to a leopard. Among domestic cats, the Bengal color is perhaps the most diverse and unique. Marble Brown Marble Bengal at TICA (2013) Domestic cats have four different ancestral coat patterns – ticked, mackerel, spotted and spotted – collectively referred to as tabby spots. [17] Christopher Kahlin, a Stanford University geneticist, conducted a study that was used to identify the spotted gene and the marbled gene in domestic Bengal cats. Kaelin studied color and pattern variation in northern California feral cats and was able to identify the gene responsible for the marbled pattern in Bengal cats. [18] Snow Bengal with ink markings (horizontal stripes along the eyes) UC Davis DNA test showed a cat of three recessive colors. Bengal size The Bengal is a spotted cat breed of medium to large size. [19] Bengals are long and lean. Bengals are larger than the average domestic cat due to their muscular body. Legal restrictions In the US, cities and states may have legal restrictions. In New York and the state of Hawaii, Bengal cats are illegal (as are all other domestic-feral cat hybrids). [20] [21] [22] In various other places, such as Seattle, Washington and Denver, Colorado, there are restrictions on owning Bengal. [23] Generation F1-F4 Bengals are regulated in New York State, Georgia, Massachusetts, Delaware, Connecticut, and Indiana. Except as noted above, Bengal cats from and beyond the F5 generation are considered domestic and generally legal. Bengali was regulated in the United Kingdom, however the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs removed previous licensing requirements in 2007. [24] F5 Bengals are not restricted in Australia, but their importation is difficult. [25] Temperament Bengal cats are intelligent, energetic and playful (although in some rare cases they can be quite lazy). Many Bengal owners say that their Bengals naturally retrieve objects and often enjoy playing in the water. [26] The International Cat Association (TICA) describes the Bengal cat as an active, inquisitive cat that likes to climb high. Most Bengals enjoy playing, racing, climbing and exploring. In general, Bengals love action. Bengals are generally confident and curious. [6] Health Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) Example of a completed HCM report Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a serious problem in the Bengal cat breed. This is a disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied). Thick heart muscle can make it difficult for a cat’s heart to pump blood. [27] The only way to determine the suitability of Bengal cats for breeding is to have the cat’s heart scanned by a cardiologist. HCM is a common genetic disorder in Bengal cats and as of 2018 no genetic testing has been performed. The current practice of screening for HCM involves taking Bengal cats to a certified veterinary cardiologist where an echocardiogram is performed. Bengal cats used for breeding should be examined annually to ensure there is no hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Currently, North Carolina State University is trying to identify genetic markers of HCM in the Bengal cat. [28] One study published in Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine states that the prevalence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in Bengal cats is 16.7% (95% CI = 13.2–46.5%). [29] Bengal Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA-b) Bengal cats are known to be susceptible to several genetic diseases, one of which is Bengal. progressive retinal atrophy, also known as Bengal PRA or PRA-b. Anyone who breeds Bengal cats should have this test done as it is inexpensive, non-invasive and easy to perform. A breeder who claims his cats have been “veterinarian tested” does not mean that the test was performed by a veterinarian: it is performed by the breeder outside the veterinary office (rarely, if ever, by a veterinarian). The test is then sent directly to the laboratory. Red blood cell pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK-deficiency or PK-def) PK deficiency is a common genetic disorder found in Bengal cats. PK deficiency is another test that a breeder does. Breeding Bengal cats should be tested before breeding to ensure that two PK-deficient carriers do not mate. This is a test that the breeder must pass on their own. The breeder uses a cotton swab to rub the inside of the cat’s mouth and then sends it off to the lab. Bengal blood type At the University of California, Davis, the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory studied the blood types of domestic cats. They concluded that most domestic cats fall into the AB system. Common blood types are A and B, and some cats have the rare AB blood type. There are not enough samples from Bengal cats, so the genetics of the AB blood type in Bengal cats is not well understood. [30] In one UK study of the Bengal blood type, 100 Bengal cats were tested. They concluded that all 100 Bengal cats tested had type A blood. [31] Responsible Bengal Breeding Responsible Bengal breeders are learning which recessive genes their breeding cats carry. The most serious problems in breeding Bengals are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), progressive retinal atrophy, and pyruvate kinase deficiency. Cat breeders should be aware of all current breed specific tests. Bengal breeders must carry out all available tests to ensure that they do not breed cats with health problems. HCM screening is a topic that Bengal breeders can discuss. HCM can develop in their Bengal cats at any time, including shortly after their annual HCM screening. this is best practice for screening all Bengal cats used in breeding programs: HCM screening by a cardiologist is the only useful test that exists for Bengal and Bengal breeders in 2019. Responsible and consistent screening makes the breed healthier as breeders strive to exclude cats screening positive for HCM. [32] Shedding and grooming Bengals are often sought after by breeders [33] and pet adoption agencies [34] to be a hypoallergenic breed – less likely to cause an allergic reaction. The Bengal cat is said to have below average levels of allergens, [34] [ needs a better source ] although this has not been scientifically proven as of 2020. Feline geneticist Leslie Lyons, director of the University of Missouri Laboratory of Cats and Comparative Genetics does not accept such claims, noting that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic cat. Thus, putative hypoallergenic breeds may still cause a reaction in those with severe allergies. Hypoallergenic, which means “below average” or “slightly” allergenic, means that a substance (especially cosmetics and textiles) is believed to cause fewer allergic reactions. [35] Cashmere Bengal (longhaired) Cashmere Bengal kitten with long hair A few longhaired Bengals (more precisely, semi-longhaired) have always been found in Bengal tribes. Many domestic cats were used to create the Bengal breed, and the long hair gene is thought to have originated from one of them. reverse intersections. UC Davis developed a long hair genetic test to allow Bengal breeders to select Bengal cats with a recessive long hair gene for their breeding programs. [36] Some Bengal cats used for breeding may carry the recessive longhair gene. When a male and female Bengal carry a copy of the recessive long hair gene and the two Bengals mate with each other, they can produce long-haired Bengals. (See Cat Coat Genetics#Genes Affecting Coat Length and Texture.) In the past, longhaired offspring of Bengal matings were spayed or neutered until some breeders decided to breed the longhaired Bengal (which they called the Cashmere Bengal). 9 Longeri, M.; Ferrari, P.; Knafelz, P.; Mezzelani, A.; Marabotti, A.; Milanesi, L.; Pertica, G.; Polly, M.; Brambilla, P.G.; Kittleson, M.; Lyons, L.A.; Porciello, F. (January 17, 2013). “Myosin-binding protein C DNA variants in domestic cats (A31P, A74T, R820W) and their association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy”. Journal of Internal Veterinary Medicine . 27 (2): 275–285. doi:10.1111 / jvim.12031. PMC 3602388. PMID 23323744. 9 “Bengal cats: their history, breeds and other facts.” zoipet.com. August 2020. received August 22, 2020. External link International Bengal Cats Society Full History of the Bengal cat Bengal-gide Bengal Genelia 9097 B Bengalia about Bengali Greece. Nature, plants and animals of Greece Greece nature and wildlife The flora of all regions of Greece is the richest in Europe with more than 6000 varieties and sub-species, of which 700-750 species are native, which inhabit and can only be found within the borders of Greek territory . However, unfortunately, today the animal world of the country is poor in mammals, especially large ones, which were exterminated by man for several millennia. Red deer have almost completely disappeared from the country, but small animals such as rabbits and hares are common. Larger animals are still found in the mountains: the mountain goat and brown bear are found in Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, and the wolf is found in more remote forest areas. Also from predators in Greece you can see a wild cat, a fox, a jackal, a stone marten, a badger, a wild boar, a European bear, a lynx. Of the ungulates, there are the Cretan wild goat, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar. On the territory of Greece, there are many animals listed in the Red Book, among them: the Mediterranean sea turtle, the monk seal. The most numerous mammals are rodents (porcupine, gray hamster, mice, dormouse, voles, etc.), southern species of bats and insectivores – shrews, hedgehogs, moles. In Greece, a variety of reptiles – turtles, lizards, snakes. They easily tolerate heat and lack of moisture in the dry summer season. The wooded areas are home to the Greek land tortoise, the most common tortoise species in the country. Of the numerous lizards, the most typical for Greece are rocky, or wall, Greek sharp-headed, Peloponnesian, Ionic and the largest in Europe – green. Among snakes, snakes, snakes, horned vipers are especially common. Diverse and the world of birds. Quail, wild ducks, wood pigeons and stockheads, gray and especially mountain partridges, brightly feathered hoopoes, rollers, kingfishers, and from predatory kites, black vultures, eagles, falcons, owls are the most typical representatives of the bird fauna of Greece and the entire Mediterranean. There are numerous flocks of seagulls on the sea coasts. The long-nosed cormorant, curly pelican, and stork are also characteristic of Greece. The southern green woodpecker, mountain bunting lives in the forests. Representatives of the passerine order are typical for the country – stone sparrow, canary finch, Greek swallow. There are also many types of terrestrial mollusks (snails). So, in Crete there are 120 species of mollusks, of which 77 are peculiar only to this territory. Greece is one of the richest countries in Europe in terms of vegetation. In Greece, orange and olive trees grow right on the streets, which are one of the three main sources of income for Greece after tourism and navigation. The flora is very diverse (there are more than 6 thousand plant species) and varies depending on the height above sea level. Shrubs predominate: they cover 25% of the country’s territory, while forests – only 19%. In ancient times, only a small part of the land was suitable for processing and cultivating crops. In order to get new territories for arable land and gardens, they began to cut down forests covering the slopes of the mountains. Therefore, now only 12% of the country’s territory is occupied by forests. They say that “Greece was eaten by goats.” Indeed, sheep and goats, bred for a long time by the Greeks, ate and trampled the young shoots of trees. Thickets of evergreens – maquis and shiblyak – are widespread here. Freegana thickets are also typical for Greece – low, poorly deciduous prickly shrubs. Many scientists believe that this is a secondary vegetation that formed on the site of oak forests cut down in ancient times. The evergreen Mediterranean vegetation covers the plains and almost all the foothills. Maquis and freegana are the most characteristic of this belt. There are groves of pines, evergreen oaks, cypresses and plane trees. On the peninsula grows mastic pistachio – a deciduous plant. If a notch is made on it, juice will flow – mastic, a transparent varnish is made from it, which is used to cover picturesque paintings. The so-called “evergreen belt” mainly consists of cultivated vegetation. Its most typical representative is the olive (olive). It is impossible to imagine Greece without olive groves. The olive branch has long been a symbol of Greek culture, the Greek land. Meanwhile, the olive tree is just as alien here as the Greek tribes. The birthplace of the olive tree is the sultry coast of Phoenicia. The Phoenicians, fearless navigators, were the first to master the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. They brought the bones of an unprecedented plant to Crete. Curiosities were loved in Crete. So next to the palace of Minos, the first olive grove appeared. In the coastal lowlands (especially in Central and Northern Greece), most of the land is occupied by cereal fields, as well as cotton and tobacco plantations. On the plains and in the foothill zone, vineyards and orchards of Mediterranean fruit trees are widespread. Pyramid cypresses are often found near settlements. Orchards are often bordered by high natural hedges of agaves and prickly pear, which complete the colorful picture of the cultivated vegetation of the evergreen belt. Evergreen and deciduous forests grow from 120 to 460 m – oak, black spruce, walnut, beech, sumac. Next to the “evergreen belt” is a belt of mountain forests and shrubs, in which, with increasing height, cultivated vegetation is increasingly replaced by natural vegetation, evergreen forests and shrubs are replaced by deciduous, and the latter by coniferous, reaching the upper border of the forest, such wild flowers also grow here like anemones and cyclamens. Above the slopes, first deciduous (oak, maple, plane tree, ash, linden, chestnut, beech in the upper part) and then coniferous (fir, pine) forests grow; above 2000 m – subalpine meadows. Greece, like the Balkans in general, abounds in walnuts. They are called the acorns of the gods, and they grow on deciduous trees with a spreading crown up to 30 meters high. Jam is prepared from unripe nuts, mature nuts and nut butter are very healthy and tasty. It is interesting that you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Greece not only from popular science sources. The amazingly interesting flora and fauna of the Greek island of Corfu is described in the artistic trilogy of the great naturalist Gerald Durrell, who spent five years of his childhood on this wonderful island. The trilogy includes My Family and Other Beasts, Birds, Beasts and Relatives, and The Garden of the Gods, written with unsurpassed humor. In Greece, the number of animals has been rapidly decreasing over the past few millennia due to hunting. Also, the flora of this country has become poor. Almost all large mammals were exterminated, if they are found, then only in the mountains on the border with Bulgaria and in Pinda. But there are many small animals in the country. Among large animals here you can see a brown bear, a mountain goat living in the mountains, a wolf living in forests. But the red deer here is almost completely exterminated. Of the small animals, there are many rabbits and hares. There are hoofed animals – wild boar, fallow deer, wild goat, roe deer. Of the mammals, rodents (mice, voles, gray hamster, dormouse, porcupine), insectivores (moles, shrews, moles) and bats of the southern species can be found in large numbers. There is a great variety of reptiles in Greece: lizards, turtles, snakes. They tolerate the lack of moisture and heat well in summer. For Greece, a typical lizard that lives on the rocks. There are also Peloponnesian, Greek sharp-headed, Ionic and green lizards, considered the largest in Europe. Of the turtles, such a species as the land Greek prevails. She lives in the woodlands. The most common snakes are snakes, snakes, horned vipers. Greece is inhabited by many predators such as: jackal, fox, wild cat, European bear, wild boar, lynx, badger, stone marten. In this country, there are animals that are exterminated by man and are on the verge of extinction. They were listed in the Red Book. Some of these animals are the monk seal and the Mediterranean sea turtle. The world of birds in Greece is very diverse and numerous. Here live wild ducks, hoopoes with bright plumage, pigeons, stock doves and wood pigeons, quails, mountain and gray partridges, kingfishers, rollers. Birds of prey are represented by black vultures, falcons, eagles, kites, and also the most typical representatives of the world of birds for Greece and the Mediterranean are owls. Seagulls are found on the coasts. Greece is characterized by such species of birds as stork, curly pelican, long-nosed cormorant. The detachment of passerines is numerous – canary finch, stone sparrow, Greek swallow. There are a large number of mollusks (snails) in the country. In Crete alone, there are 120 species of mollusks, 77 of them are characteristic only for this country. Flora of Greece The soil and vegetation cover is characterized by altitudinal zonality. The vegetation of Greece is very diverse (there are more than 6 thousand plant species) and varies depending on the height above sea level. Shrubs predominate: they cover 25% of the country’s territory, while forests – only 19%. Thickets of evergreens – maquis and shiblyak – are widespread here. Freegana thickets are also typical for Greece – low, poorly deciduous prickly shrubs. Many scientists believe that this is a secondary vegetation that formed on the site of oak forests cut down in ancient times. Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation covers the plains and almost all the foothills. Maquis and freegana are the most characteristic of this belt. There are groves of pines, evergreen oaks, cypresses and plane trees. Mastic pistachio, a deciduous plant, grows on the peninsula. If you make a notch on it, juice will flow – mastic, a transparent varnish is made from it, which is used to cover picturesque paintings. The so-called “evergreen belt” mainly consists of cultivated vegetation. Its most typical representative is the olive tree. It is impossible to imagine Greece without olive groves. The olive branch has long been a symbol of Greek culture, the Greek land. In the coastal lowlands (especially in Central and Northern Greece), most of the land is occupied by cereal fields, as well as cotton and tobacco plantations. On the plains and in the foothill zone, vineyards and orchards of Mediterranean fruit trees are widespread. Pyramid cypresses are often found near settlements. Orchards are often bordered by high natural hedges of agaves and prickly pear, which complete the colorful picture of the cultivated vegetation of the evergreen belt. Evergreen and deciduous forests grow at an altitude of 120 to 460 meters – oak, black spruce, walnut, beech, sumac. Above is a belt of mountain forests and shrubs, in which, with increasing height, cultivated vegetation is increasingly replaced by natural vegetation, evergreen forests and shrubs are replaced by deciduous, and the latter by conifers, reaching the upper border of the forest, and wild flowers such as anemones and cyclamens grow here. Above 2000 meters – subalpine meadows. Greece, like the Balkans as a whole, abounds in walnuts. They are called the acorns of the gods, and they grow on deciduous trees with a spreading crown up to 30 meters high. Jam is prepared from unripe nuts, mature nuts and nut butter are very healthy and tasty. Wildlife of Greece. The animal world is poor in mammals, especially large ones, which were exterminated by man for several millennia. The red deer is almost exterminated, but small animals such as rabbits and hares are common. Larger animals are still found in the mountains: the mountain goat and brown bear are found in Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, and the wolf is found in more remote forest areas. Also among the predators in Greece you can see a wild cat, a fox, a jackal, a stone marten, a badger, a wild boar, a European bear, a lynx. Of the ungulates, there are the Cretan wild goat, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar. On the territory of Greece, there are many animals listed in the Red Book, among them: the Mediterranean sea turtle, the monk seal. The world of birds is also diverse. Quail, wild ducks, wood pigeons and stockheads, gray and especially mountain partridges, brightly feathered hoopoes, rollers, kingfishers, and from predatory kites, black vultures, eagles, falcons, owls are the most typical representatives of the bird fauna of Greece and the entire Mediterranean. There are numerous flocks of seagulls on the sea coasts. The long-nosed cormorant, Dalmatian pelican, and stork are also characteristic of Greece. The southern green woodpecker, mountain bunting lives in the forests. Greece is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and on the adjacent 2000 islands of the Mediterranean, Aegean and Ionian Seas, which account for almost 20% of its territory and of which only 166 are inhabited. By land, Greece borders on Albania, Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey. From the west to the east of the Aegean Sea stretches a chain of islands – the Cyclades, and from north to south along the coast of Asia Minor – the Sporades (Dodecanese). In the south, the Aegean Sea, as it were, closes with Crete, the largest island of Greece. Along the western coast are the Ionian Islands. The country is named after the ethnonym of the people – the Greeks. Official name: Hellenic Republic Capital: Athens Territory area: 132 thousand sq. m. km Total population: 11.3 million people Administrative division: 51 nom (prefecture), which are divided into 264 dimas (districts), and a special administrative unit – the area of ​​the Holy Mountain – Athos. Form of government: Republic. Head of State: President. Composition of the population: 93% – Greeks, 7% – Turks, Albanians, Bulgarians, Macedonians and Armenians. State language: Greek Religion: 98% – Greek Orthodox. Meet – Muslims, Catholics and Protestants. Internet domain: .gr Mains voltage: ~230V, 50Hz Country code: +30 Country barcode: 520 Climate The climate of Greece is subtropical Mediterranean. It differs somewhat across the country. In the northern half of Greece, the coldest months are January and February. At this time, at night, the air temperature drops to weakly positive values ​​(+1 … +3), and in some years to slightly negative values ​​\u200b\u200b(0 … -2), in the daytime it is 8 . .. 10 degrees . The warmest time of the year is July and August. Even at night in these months, the temperature never falls below +20; during the day, it often crosses the thirty-degree mark. The rainiest period in the north of the country lasts from November to January. At this time, the number of days with precipitation ranges from 10 to 12 days per month. The driest period: from July to September (monthly number of days with precipitation from 3 to 5). The climate of the plains and foothills of the central part of Greece is practically the same as in the north. But in the mountainous regions that occupy most of the territory, the temperature is much lower, and some mountain peaks are covered with snow all year round. In the south of Greece, the coldest months are January and February, when at night the air temperature is about +6o, during the day 12…13o. The hottest time is July. In it at night its value is 22 … 23 degrees, in the daytime on average + 30 . .. + 33 degrees. The maximum number of days with precipitation falls on November – January (the number of days with precipitation during the month is 12-16), the driest period is from June to September (the number of days with precipitation during the month is 2-4). On the islands, temperatures are warmer at night and the heat of the day is moderated by cool sea breezes. The coldest time of the year is from December to March. At night at this time it is from 5 to 8 degrees, in the daytime 11 … 16 degrees. The warmest time of the year is from June to September, when at night the temperature is 21…22, in the daytime 27…30 degrees. The wettest time is from December to February (the number of days with precipitation in each of the months is 9-12), the driest is from June to September (for the entire month of this period, not a drop of rain may fall). The swimming season starts in May, when the water temperature during the month rises from +17 to +19. In summer (from June to August) it is 20. ..25 degrees, in September and October 21…23 degrees. During the rest of the year, the water temperature off the coast of Greece is never below +15 degrees. Geography Greece occupies the southeastern and southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula, as well as a number of islands, which account for one fifth of the territory. The largest islands are Crete, Rhodes, Lesbos, Euboea. Greece’s neighbors in the north are Macedonia and Bulgaria, in the northwest – Albania, in the northeast – Turkey. From the south, the country is washed by the Mediterranean Sea, from the west – by the Ionian, from the east – by the Aegean. On the northern coast of the Aegean Sea, called Thrace, there are the southern spurs of the Rhodope Mountains. The central part of mainland Greece is occupied by the Pindus mountain range, the highest point of which is Mount Olympus, the home of the ancient mythological gods. Olympus rises to a height of 2917 m. On the peninsulas, the mountains are rocky, but in some places they recede inland, giving way to flat areas. The relief of numerous islands is also mountainous. The largest plains of Greece, Thessaly and Thessaloniki, are located along the coast of the Aegean Sea. The rivers of Greece are small in length. Basically, they flow along faults in the mountains, therefore they have a fast current. The main rivers are Arakhtos, Aheeloos, Alyakmon, Pinhos and Sperchios (mainland), Alfios and Evrotas (Peloponnese), Aksios (Vardar), Strymon (Struma) and Nestos (Mesta) (Macedonia and Thrace). In Greece, there are many lakes of karst origin, there are also mineral springs. The area of ​​Greece is 132 thousand sq. km. Plant and animal life Plant world The vegetation of Greece is very diverse (there are more than 6 thousand plant species) and varies depending on the height above sea level. Shrubs predominate: they cover 25% of the country’s territory, while forests – only 19%. In ancient times, only a small part of the land was suitable for processing and cultivating crops. In order to get new territories for arable land and gardens, they began to cut down forests covering the slopes of the mountains. Therefore, now only 12% of the country’s territory is occupied by forests. It is said that “Greece was eaten by goats”. Indeed, sheep and goats, bred for a long time by the Greeks, ate and trampled the young shoots of trees. Thickets of evergreens – maquis and shiblyak – are widespread here. Freegana thickets are also typical for Greece – low, poorly deciduous prickly shrubs. Many scientists believe that this is a secondary vegetation that formed on the site of oak forests cut down in ancient times. Evergreen Mediterranean vegetation covers the plains and almost all the foothills. Maquis and freegana are the most characteristic of this belt. There are groves of pines, evergreen oaks, cypresses and plane trees. Mastic pistachio, a deciduous plant, grows on the peninsula. If you make a notch on it, juice will flow – mastic, a transparent varnish is made from the dog, which is used to cover picturesque paintings. The so-called “evergreen belt” mainly consists of cultivated vegetation. Its most typical representative is the olive tree. It is impossible to imagine Greece without olive groves. The olive branch has long been a symbol of Greek culture, the Greek land. Meanwhile, the olive tree is just as alien here as the Greek tribes. The birthplace of the olive tree is the sultry coast of Phoenicia. The Phoenicians, fearless navigators, were the first to master the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. They brought the bones of an unprecedented plant to Crete. Curiosities were loved in Crete. So next to the palace of Minos, the first olive grove appeared. In the coastal lowlands (especially in Central and Northern Greece), most of the land is occupied by cereal fields, as well as cotton and tobacco plantations. On the plains and in the foothill zone, vineyards and orchards of Mediterranean fruit trees are widespread. Pyramid cypresses are often found near settlements. Orchards are often bordered by high natural hedges of agaves and prickly pear, which complete the colorful picture of the cultivated vegetation of the evergreen belt. Evergreen and deciduous forests grow from 120 to 460 m – oak, black spruce, walnut, beech, sumac. Following the “evergreen belt” is a belt of mountain forests and shrubs, in which, with increasing height, cultivated vegetation is increasingly replaced by natural, evergreen forests and shrubs are replaced by deciduous, and the latter by conifers, reaching the upper border of the forest, and wild flowers such as anemones and cyclamens. Above the slopes grow first deciduous (oak, maple, sycamore, ash, linden, chestnut, beech in the upper part), and then coniferous (fir, pine) forests; above 2000 m – subalpine meadows. Greece, like the Balkans as a whole, abounds in walnuts. They are called the acorns of the gods, and they grow on deciduous trees with a spreading crown up to 30 meters high. Jam is prepared from unripe nuts, mature nuts and nut butter are very healthy and tasty. Animal world There is little natural vegetation in Greece, the country’s fauna is poor in mammals, especially large ones, which were exterminated by man over several millennia. The red deer is almost exterminated, but small animals such as rabbits and hares are common. Larger animals are still found in the mountains: the mountain goat and brown bear are found in Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, and the wolf is found in more remote forest areas. Also among predators in Greece you can see a wild cat, a fox, a jackal, a stone marten, a badger, a wild boar, a European bear, a lynx. Of the ungulates, there are the Cretan wild goat, fallow deer, roe deer, and wild boar. On the territory of Greece, there are many animals listed in the Red Book, among them: the Mediterranean sea turtle, the monk seal. The most numerous mammals are rodents (porcupine, gray hamster, mice, dormouse, voles, etc.), southern species of bats and insectivores – shrews, hedgehogs, moles. In Greece, a variety of reptiles – turtles, lizards, snakes. They easily tolerate heat and lack of moisture in the dry summer season. The wooded areas are home to the Greek tortoise, the most common tortoise species in the country. Of the numerous lizards, the most typical of Greece are rocky, or wall, Greek sharp-headed, Peloponnesian, Ionic and the largest in Europe – green. Among snakes, snakes, snakes, horned vipers are especially common. The world of birds is also diverse. Quail, wild ducks, wood pigeons and stockheads, gray and especially mountain partridges, brightly feathered hoopoes, rollers, kingfishers, and predatory kites, black vultures, eagles, falcons, owls are the most typical representatives of the bird fauna of Greece and the entire Mediterranean. There are numerous flocks of seagulls on the sea coasts. The long-nosed cormorant, Dalmatian pelican, and stork are also characteristic of Greece. The southern green woodpecker, mountain bunting lives in the forests. Representatives of the passerine order are typical for the country – stone sparrow, canary finch, Greek swallow. There are also many types of terrestrial mollusks (snails). So, in Crete there are 120 species of mollusks, of which 77 are peculiar only to this territory. Attractions Acropolis of Athens Thessaloniki White Tower Mount Olympus Sunken City Olus Castle of the Knights of St. John Palace of Knossos Minotaur Labyrinth Lake Voulismeni Statue of Zeus at Olympia Theater of Dionysus Samaria Gorge Temple at Delphi Banks and currency Since 2002, a new currency has been introduced in Greece – the euro. Only euros and credit cards are accepted everywhere. Euros can be easily bought at exchange offices, including at a hotel, and exchanged back into dollars when leaving the country. Banknotes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros and coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents are used. There are 100 cents in one euro. There is no “black market” for currency exchange. Fur shops often accept US dollars for payment. The working day of Greek banks is very short – from 8:00 to 13:00, at the latest – until 14:00. Exchange offices work until 20.00 even on weekends, but from 1 to 2% is charged for the exchange operation. There are many ATMs in the country that accept Visa, MasterCard, etc. Traveler’s checks are also widely used. Useful information for tourists In restaurants, taverns and cafes, it is customary to tip 5-10% of the total order. To pay, it is not necessary to wait for the waiter – you can simply leave the money on the plate on which the bill was brought. There is only one strict ban: when visiting the monasteries, you can not wear shorts, T-shirts, and women – trousers and miniskirts. However, it is not necessary to wear hats. In many monasteries there is a small room in front of the entrance where long skirts and loose trousers hang, which you can put on if your clothes are too frivolous. Greece is a country unique in every sense. Just think, it consists of three parts – mainland, island and western Asia Minor near the sea. Flora and fauna of Greece are extremely diverse, many species of plants and animals can be seen here and only here. There are even rare species listed in the Red Book … So, now about everything in order. The Greek peninsula is located in the southeast of the European continent at the very Asian border and covers an area of ​​ 131 944 square kilometers 90,966 (including 25,000 square meters of islands). Greek territory covers: the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, as well as the islands of the Mediterranean, Ionian and Aegean Seas. Part of the country, located on the mainland, washed by the seas on three sides, the length of the coastline is 4100 kilometers (and if you take into account the islands, then about 15,000 kilometers). Approximately a thousand islands are part of this state – and this is about 20 percent of the entire territory of Greece. Albania and Bulgaria are neighboring countries of Greece in the north, in the east the state borders on Turkey. The western shores are washed by the Ionian Sea, the eastern – by the Aegean, and the southern – by the Mediterranean. The largest islands are: Greece is located at the crossroads of trade routes, which has always brought economic benefits to the country. The indented coastline with a large number of bays and bays created natural ship harbors. Flora of Greece Without exaggeration, Greece can be called a real treasury of the most diverse plants – there are more than 6 thousand of them. And this despite the fact that 750 species of them can be found exclusively in Greek territory. Europe’s richest country in terms of flora will welcome you with olive and orange trees that spread their fragrant branches right on the streets! Incidentally, the fruits of these trees are one of the main sources of income for Greece, along with tourism and navigation. Species diversity of the Greek flora is in direct proportion to the height above sea level and is represented mainly by shrubs – 25 percent territory of the country, less forests – only 19 percent . Goats ate Greece Ancient Greece could not boast of fertile lands, therefore, in order to obtain new territories for the cultivation of crops, forests that densely covered the mountain slopes had to be cut down. It is for this reason that now only no more than 12 percent of the territory of Greece is occupied by forests. Many people have heard the expression “Greece was eaten by goats”, but, perhaps, not everyone will be able to explain what it is connected with. The fact is that the Greeks from ancient times bred sheep and goats, which trampled and chewed young shoots of trees with pleasure. See also: How to buy property in Athens – recommendations, legal nuances and prices Deciduous and evergreen trees In Greece, evergreen maquis and shibleka, as well as thorny semi-shrubs – freegans, are very common. According to scientists, this vegetation was formed on the site of oak forests, which were cut down in ancient times. The plains and foothills are also covered with Mediterranean evergreen vegetation. There are oak, cypress, sycamore and pine groves here. There is also a wonderful leafy plant – mastic pistachio, from the juice of which they make a transparent varnish that serves as a coating for picturesque paintings. Coniferous belt The “evergreen belt” is represented mainly by cultivated vegetation, and here the dominant role, no doubt, belongs to the olive. The olive branch is the epitome of Greek culture, although Phoenicia is actually its homeland. It was the brave Phoenician sailors who brought the bones of an outlandish plant to Crete. This is how the first olive grove arose near the palace of Minos. The coastal lowlands of Greece are occupied by tobacco and cotton plantations, as well as cereal fields. In the foothill zone and on the plains, gardens of Mediterranean fruit trees and the gifts of the god Dionysus – vineyards are widespread. You can often see pyramidal cypresses near the settlements. Orchards are surrounded by natural hedges of prickly pear and agave. Coniferous and deciduous forests – black spruce, beech, oak, sumac and walnut – grow from 120 to 460 meters. Belt of mountain forests and shrubs Next comes the belt of mountain forests and shrubs, it shows the following trend: as the height increases, the cultivated vegetation is replaced by natural, coniferous forests and shrubs – deciduous, and deciduous – evergreen. There are wild flowers here – cyclamens and anemones. A very unusual jam is made from unripe fruits, and ripe nuts and nut butter are extremely tasty and healthy. Mammals in the fauna of Greece are not so common, especially large ones, because man exterminated them for several millennia in a row. The red deer is almost completely exterminated. In Pinda and the mountains along the border with Bulgaria, the brown bear and the mountain goat are still found, and even the wolf lives in the forests. <- Предыдущий пост: Kindercare mn locations: Daycare, Preschool & Child Care Centers in Twin Cities, MN Следующий пост: Free education 3 year olds: Help paying for childcare: 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds ->