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Athens (['æθn̩s]; Greek: Αθήνα, Athina [a'θina]), the capital and largest city in Greece, dominates the Attica periphery: as one of the world's oldest cities, its recorded history spans at least 3,000 years. The Greek capital has a population of 745,514 (in 2001) within its administrative limits[ and a land area of 39 km² (15 sq mi).][Characteristics. Hellenic Interior Ministry. www.ypes.gr. Retrieved on 2007-01-06.] The urban area of Athens extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3.37 million (in 2005).["Population des villes et unités urbaines de plus de 1 million d'habitants de l'Union Européenne" (French). Institut National de la Statistique et des Études Économiques. Retrieved on 2006-04-10.] The metro area of Athens spans 412 km² (159 sq mi)[ and encompasses a population of 3.7 million.][ The Athens Larger Urban Zone (LUZ) is the 8th most populated LUZ in the European Union with an estimated population of 3.89 million (in 2001).][Urban Audit. Athina (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-12-28.] A bustling and cosmopolitan metropolis, Athens is central to economic, financial, industrial, political and cultural life in Greece. It is rapidly becoming a leading business centre in the European Union.
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