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Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus (/oʊˈlɪmpəs, əˈlɪm-/,[5] Greek: Όλυμπος, romanized: Ólympos, IPA: [ˈoli(m)bos]) is the highest mountain in Greece. It is part of the Olympus massif near the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, located in the Olympus Range on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, between the regional units of Larissa and Pieria, about 80 km (50 mi) southwest from Thessaloniki.[6] Mount Olympus has 52 peaks and deep gorges.[7] The highest peak, Mytikas (Μύτικας Mýtikas), meaning "nose", rises to 2,917.727 metres (9,572.60 ft).[1][8][9] It is one of the highest peaks in Europe in terms of topographic prominence.[10]

This article is about the mountain in Thessaly. For the Martian shield volcano, see Olympus Mons. For other mountains with this same name, see List of peaks named Olympus. For other uses, see Olympus.

Mount Olympus

Mytikas

2,917.727 m (9,572.60 ft)[1]

2,353 m (7,720 ft)[2]

Elferkofel[2]

Country high point
Ultra

40°05′08″N 22°21′31″E / 40.08556°N 22.35861°E / 40.08556; 22.35861

Thessaly and Macedonia, near the Gulf of Salonika

By religious pilgrims or priests in Antiquity.[3][4] First Modern Ascent: 2 August 1913
Christos Kakkalos, Frederic Boissonnas and Daniel Baud-Bovy

In Greek mythology, Olympus is the home of the Greek gods, on Mytikas peak. The mountain has exceptional biodiversity and rich flora.[11] It has been a National Park, the first in Greece, since 1938. It is also a World Biosphere Reserve.[8]


Olympus remains the most popular hiking summit in Greece as well as one of the most popular in Europe. Organized mountain refuges and various mountaineering and climbing routes are available. The usual starting point is the town of Litochoro which lies in the eastern foothills of the mountain, some 100 km (62 mi) from Thessaloniki.

Geology[edit]

Mount Olympus is formed of sedimentary rock laid down 200 million years ago in a shallow sea. Various geological events that followed caused the emergence of the whole region and the sea. Around one million years ago glaciers covered Olympus and created its plateaus and depressions. With the temperature rise that followed, the ice melted and the streams that were created swept away large quantities of crushed rock in the lowest places, forming the alluvial fans, that spread out all over the region from the foothills of the mountain to the sea.[8] The Geological Museum of Mount Olympus, located in Leptokarya, provides detailed information about the geological structure of the mountain.

Entrance to children under 14 years unescorted.

Parking in places other than the specific parking lots.

Felling, humus transportation, rooting and collecting shrubs, plants and seeds.

Hunting any animal by any means throughout the year.

Collection and destruction of nests, eggs or chicks and general disturbance and destruction of fauna species.

Damage to geological formations.

Free movement of any animals accompanying visitors.

Spilios Agapitos, the first refuge of the region, is at the site "Βalkoni" (or "Exostis") at 2,100 metres (6,900 ft) elevation. It is in the center of Mavrologos and belongs to Greek Federation of Mountaineering Club (E.O.O.S).

[44]

Vrysopoules, the second refuge, is westerly behind Mavratzas' gorge at the site Vrysopoules (1,800 m) and is accessible also by car from Sparmos. It has been managed by the Κ.Ε.Ο.Α.Χ (Army Skiers) since 1961. It provides 30 beds, a kitchen, water, electricity, central heating and a fireplace. It is open all year round, but to overnight a military license is required.

Christos Kakalos is at the southwest edge of Muses' Plateau (2,648 m). It belongs to Greek Federation of Mountaineering and Climbing (Ε.Ο.Ο.Α) that operates it from May to October and provides 18 beds, electricity, blankets, a kitchen and tank water. It is managed by one of the best experienced Greek climbers, the geologist Mihalis Stylas.

[44]

Stavros ("Dimitrios Bountolas") is on the eastern side of Olympus, 9.5 km on asphalt road away from Litochoro, at 930 metres (3,050 ft) elevation, in the Dionysios Monastery forest. It belongs to the Greek Mountaineering Club of Thessaloniki, operates all year round, mainly as refreshment room and restaurant and can host 30 persons. It is managed by the Doultsinou family.

Giosos Apostolidis is on Muses' Plateau (Diaselo – 2,760 m) and belongs to the Club of Greek mountaineers of Thessaloniki. It can accommodate 80 persons, it provides electricity, water, a fireplace and an equipped kitchen and it is open from June to October. It is managed by Dimitris Zorbas.

[44]

Petrostrouga is on the second, more common, path to Olympus (D10), the same path to reach to Muses' Plateau. This refuge is at 1,900 metres (6,200 ft) elevation, surrounded by perennial Bosnian pines. It can accommodate 60 persons, it provides an equipped kitchen, electricity, water and a fireplace and it is open all year round. It is managed by the Hellenic Rescue Team. It provides organized medical equipment and one of the three emergency heliports in Olympus (the others at Skourta and Spilios Agapitos) and emergency wireless inside and out of the refuge.

Coin[edit]

Mount Olympus and the national Park around it were selected as the main motif for the Greek National Park Olympus commemorative coin, minted in 2005. On the reverse, the War of the Titans on Mount Olympus is portrayed along with flowering branches on the lower part of the coin. Above the scene is written, in Greek, "National Park Olympus".

Asteroid

22754 Olympus

List of mountains in Greece

Sacred mountains

flag

Greece portal

(in Greek)

Digital library Olympus Alpine Biblioteca

. Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911.

"Olympus" 

Revisiting the determination of Mount Olympus Height (Greece)

Laboratory of Geodesy – University of Thessaloniki: GPS measurement of the height of the peaks of Mountain Olympus