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99.9% of the beaches of Greece are super clean and suitable for swimming. That is the verdict of the Directorate for the Environment of the European Commission, which released its annual "State of Europe's Beaches" report this week in Brussels.
The 1976 European Bathing Water Directive mandates the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, to conduct an annual survey of the quality of the water at Europe's beaches and inland swimming spots, like lakes and rivers.
The Commission looked at about 2,000 swimming spots around the country, both mainland and island beaches. Only 2 out of the 2,000 were determined to be somewhat unsuitable for human use, due to runoff from industrial uses and other causes of pollution.
When it comes to fresh water swimming, Greece's rivers and lakes are 100% suitable for human use, according to the report.
In 1992, the first year the report was released, Greece's seaside beaches were 96.3% suitable for swimming. Concerted efforts in the last 13 years, by both public and private bodies, have contributed to the country's cleaning up of its swimming act and rendering virtually the entirety of its coastline appropriate for swimming.
So, you summer sun lovers, swim away this summer knowing that all is hunky dory with the waters in the Aegean and the Ionian seas.
For more details on the EU Commission report, click here.
For a sample of the great beaches of Greece, check out the Photo Gallery.
