World second for the clean beaches

Greece got the second rank among 30 countries in the International Program "Blue Flags" that awards the cleanest and best organized beaches of the world. As announced by the Greek Society of the Protection of Nature, 433 Blue Flags were given to Greece in total, 425 flags for beaches and 8 flags for marinas. The area with most blue-flaged beaches is Halkidiki, while Dodecanese and Lassithi Crete hold the seocnd position with 41 beaches and Corfu has the third position with 32 beaches. The criterias needed so that a beach gets a Blue Flag are the cleaness of the sea and the coast in swimming period, which is testes with sampling tests, the organization of the beach, the safety of visitos and the protection of the surrounding environment. It must be noted that Greece receives such nominees every year, as it is usually ranked among the three first positions in world level.