Chalkidiki or Halkidiki as some know it is a three-pronged peninsula located in Northern Greece roughly in the center of Macedonia. To the North it shares borders with the prefecture of Thessaloniki the countrys second largest city. To the South East and West Chalkidiki juts into the Aegean Sea.. The main peninsula terminates in three smaller ones namely Kassandra Sithonia and Mount Athos well known as the Holy Mountain -an independent administrative district-. Its winding coastline is marked by four sizeable gulfs - the Thermaic Gulf to the west the Gulf of Orfanou to the east as well as the Gulf of Toroni and the Mt Athos Gulf in the south. According to latest statistical data of the National Statistical Services Chalkidiki has a population of about 80000 inhabitants. The capital city is Polygyros. The vast majority of the locals are Christian Orthodox and the currency is Euro since 1 January 2001.