Blue Flags For 421 Greek Beaches

For the year 2010 a total of 421 beaches and nine marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award in Greece.

Greece once again ranked second place on the Blue Flag quality award list among 41 countries, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. Spain is in first place.

Organizer Foundation for Environmental Education (based in Denmark) honored 2,884 beaches and 627 marinas worldwide with the international eco-label (blue flags). In Greece, a total of 421 beaches and nine marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award.

Last year 425 Greek beaches and eight marinas received a blue flag.

In Attica, the beaches of Schinias, Punta Zezas, Anavyssos, Lagonisi, Varkiza, Vouliagmeni and Voula received blue flags.

As for the rest of Greece, the majority of blue flags went to 96 beaches on Crete (27 in Chania, 13 in Rethymno, 14 in Heraklio and 42 in Lasithi). Next followed Chalkidiki (40), Kerkyra (35), Rodos (33) and Magnesia (22).

The “Blue Flag” is a voluntary eco-label awarded to beaches across the world and is run by the independent, non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education.