One of the most famous mountains on our planet is Mount Olympus. The sacred mountain is revered by the Greeks and is known to the whole world thanks to Greek mythology, studied at school. Legend has it that it was here that the gods lived, led by Zeus. Famous in myths Athena, Hermes and Apollo, Artemis and Aphrodite ate ambrosia, which pigeons brought them from a spring in the garden of the Hesperides. In Greece, the gods were not considered fictitious soulless characters, on Olympus (in Greek the name of the mountain sounds like “Olympus”) they feasted, fell in love, took revenge, that is, they lived with completely human emotions and even went down to earth to people.
Description and height of Mount Olympus in Greece
It would be more correct to apply to Olympus the concept of "mountain range", and not "mountain", because it has not one, but 40 peaks at once. Mitikas is the highest peak, its height is 2917 m. It is overtaken by Skala from 2866 m, Stephanie from 2905 m and Skolio from 2912 m. The mountains are completely covered with vegetation of various species, and there are also endemic plants. The tops of the mountains are covered with white caps of snow for most of the year.
We also recommend reading about Mount Kailash.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, people were afraid to climb mountains, considered them inaccessible and forbidden. But in 1913, the first daredevil climbed the highest point of Mount Olympus - it was the Greek Christ Kakalas. In 1938, the territory on the mountain of almost 4 thousand hectares was declared a national nature park, and in 1981 UNESCO declared it a biosphere reserve.
Climbing Olympus
Today, an ancient legend and myth can become a reality for everyone. Ascents are organized to Olympus, and not mountaineering, but tourist, in which people who do not have sports training and mountaineering equipment can take part. Comfortable and warm clothes, two or three days of free time, and the sights from the picture will appear before you in reality.
Although you can climb Olympus on your own, it is still recommended to do it as part of a group, with an accompanying instructor guide. Usually, the ascent begins in the warm season from Litochoro - a city at the foot of the mountain, where there is an information tourist base and hotels of various levels of service. From there, we move to the Prioniya parking lot (height 1100 m) on foot or by road. Further, the route is only on foot. The next parking lot is located at an altitude of 2100 m - Shelter "A" or Agapitos. Here tourists stay overnight in tents or a hotel. The next morning, an ascent to one of the peaks of Olympus is made.
At the peak of Matikas, you can not only take memorable photos and videos, but also sign the magazine stored here in an iron box. Such an experience pays for any excursion prices! Upon returning to the shelter "A" the brave souls are awarded certificates confirming the ascent. In winter (January-March), ascents to the mountain are not made, but ski resorts begin to work.
Olympus in the life around us
Unusual stories about Greek celestials have entered our lives so much that children, cities, planets, companies, sports and shopping centers are named after the gods and Mount Olympus itself. One of such examples is the Olimp tourist and entertainment center in the city of Gelendzhik. The cable car 1150 m long from the base of the Markotkh ridge leads to its peak, which tourists call Olympus. It offers a stunning view of the bay, lake, dolmen valley and mountains.
