Thessaloniki (regional unit)

Thessaloniki Περιφερειακή ενότητα Θεσσαλονίκης
Regional unit
Municipalities of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki within Greece
Coordinates: 40°40′N 23°10′E / 40.667°N 23.167°E / 40.667; 23.167Coordinates: 40°40′N 23°10′E / 40.667°N 23.167°E / 40.667; 23.167
Country	Greece
Region	Central Macedonia
Capital	Thessaloniki
Government
• Vice Governor	Apostolos Tzitzikostas
Area
• Total	3,683 km2 (1,422 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	1,110,312
• Density	300/km2 (780/sq mi)
Postal codes	54x xx - 57x xx
Area codes	231, 2391-2397
ISO 3166 code	GR-54
Car plates	N
Website	[1]

Thessaloniki (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Θεσσαλονίκης) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of Central Macedonia and its capital is the city of Thessaloniki.

The regional unit stretches from the Thermaic Gulf to the Strymonic Gulf. The Thermaic Gulf lies to the southwest while the Strymonic Gulf is in the east. Two bodies of water are located to the north, Lake Koronia in the heart of the regional unit and Lake Volvi to the east. There are farmlands throughout the western and the southwestern part, a few in the northeast, the north and along the Axios River valley. The mountains include the Chortiatis to the westcentral part, the Vertiskos to the north and parts of the Kerdylio mountains to the northeast. The regional unit borders on the Imathia regional unit to the southwest, Pella to the west, Kilkis to the north, Serres to the east and Chalkidiki to the south.

Its climate includes hot Mediterranean summers and cool to mild winters in low-lying areas and its plains. Winter weather is very common in areas 500 m above sea level and into the mountains.

The area of the Thessaloniki regional unit joined the rest of Greece in 1912, during the First Balkan War. The area was struck by an earthquake in 1978, and by flooding due to rainfall in October 2006. Thessaloniki is also the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal, founder of the modern Turkey.