A mountain located in Greece. The meaning of the word mountains in the dictionary-reference book myths of ancient Greece. Climbing Olympus
Holidays in Greece have become very popular among Russian residents, especially in recent years - the years of the crisis in Hellas, due to which prices for accommodation and food have noticeably decreased. Traveling to this country can be wonderful in many ways: there are amazing landscapes, a pleasant climate, seven seas, ancient history and culture, excellent national cuisine and the unique mentality of the local population. There is room to turn around!
In this article we will dwell in detail on the natural beauties of Greece, namely the mountain ranges. There are many mountains in Greece, most of the peaks are at an altitude of 1000-1500 meters above sea level, but there are also several impressive peaks rising to 2500 meters and above! The myths of Ancient Greece and many other legends of the same period give a special charm to the Greek mountains.
The highest point of Hellas is Mytikas, which is part of the Tharsis mountain range. But, to us, it is better known as the legendary Olympus, the abode of Zeus, Hera and other old gods. Olympus is just a little short of the three kilometer mark with a height of 2917 meters. Mytikas is located on the territory of a nature reserve of national importance, and the nearest hotels are 10 kilometers from the foot. If you intend to climb Olympus, ski or bike in its surroundings, then you should settle in Elatochori.
Olympus is a few meters inferior in height to two mountains that are part of the same mountain range: Scolio (2912 meters) and Stephanie (2905 meters). The top five highest mountains in Hellas are Smolikas (2637 meters) and Gamila (2497 meters). It is worth mentioning that a visit to Gamila is also interesting with a walk along one of the picturesque high-mountain alpine lakes Drakolimni.
Some peaks are famous not so much for their height or total area, but for their connection to ancient myths and legends. Mountains of this kind include Parnassus, Athos and Helikon. On the slopes of the latter, for example, there are sacred springs of the ancient Greek muses, if you believe the myths. And on Parnassus, according to the same myths, there was the Delphic oracle founded by Apollo himself.
The Timfi mountain range is of tourist interest. When planning to travel around Greece, you should also stop by and feel the beauty of the high mountain lakes and the mystery of natural vertical caves. There are guided tours to most of these caves. The depth of the Provatina cave is 408 meters, and the Epos cave is as much as 451 meters!
The most convenient way to travel around Greece is in a personal car, which can be rented using a very useful service from the website Momondo.ru - traveler's calendar. With its help, you can choose an inexpensive hotel with the best accommodation conditions and find the lowest airline rates. Finally, we will present you with some general tips regarding the profitable purchase of air tickets to Athens:
- The cheapest tickets can be found on UIA flights, but, on the contrary, Vueling Airlines is famous for its consistently high fares;
- The best time of year to fly to the capital of Greece, in terms of economy, is mid-January;
- Tickets must be booked 2 months before the planned departure date;
- And the optimal combination for saving is to fly from Domodedovo Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
Summit of Olympus - Mytikas
The highest mountain in Greece is the legendary Mount Olympus, or rather one of its peaks is Mytikas, reaching a height of 2919 meters above sea level. Olympus is located on the border of Greek Thessaly and the Republic of Macedonia. Mount Olympus is not one peak or two peaks, it is about 50 peaks, the heights of which range from 760 to 2919 meters. These peaks are cut by numerous ravines, which create beautiful and terrifying landscapes. The highest mountain in Greece was conquered only in 1913.
In ancient times, the Greeks believed that twelve main gods lived on Mount Olympus, who, under the leadership of the main god Zeus, crushed the Titans, and after that order reigned in the world.
Climbing Olympus
The top of Olympus is covered with snow all year round, and when the weather is clear, it sparkles in the sun. The length of the ridge, which includes Mount Olympus, is 20 kilometers.
Ordinary tourists do not rise higher than the foot of Olympus. However, people with special training can reach the top within 6 hours. The base for climbing the mountain and visiting the reserve is the village of Litokhoron, located near the foot of the mountain.
Olympic Reserve
The area adjacent to the mountain has been a national nature reserve since 1938. There is a rich flora and fauna here. Some animals are relict. Here you can meet deer, badgers, wild boars, and forest wild cats. About 1,700 plant species grow on Mount Olympus. There are birch and oak forests, groves of Macedonian spruce. For many centuries, a unique yew grove has been growing in the vicinity of the Dionysius Monastery.
The name Mount Olympus has long become a common noun, meaning something grandiose. Even the highest mountain on the planet Mars is called Olympus.
Almost eighty percent of mainland Greece is mountainous. It is not surprising that there are more than 300 of these same mountains here.
The Greek mountains are very old, and most old mountains are characterized by smooth ridge lines, a lack of sharp peaks, and deep, gentle valleys and plateaus. Here in Greece, the jagged mountain peaks can only be seen in the vicinity of Olympus. It is also the highest mountain in the country, with a height of 2917 meters. At the same time, the mountains of Greece are considered low, their main part reaches a height of 1200 and 1800 meters.
Geology of the mountains of Greece
The mountains of western Greece are composed of limestone. Due to their high porosity, moisture is actively absorbed from the atmosphere, thereby emphasizing the arid climate. Here you can observe karst landforms, which are characterized by the presence of sinkholes and caves. In the north, limestones are accompanied by granites and gneisses, resulting in a rather dissected landscape. In the east of peninsular Greece one can see an alternation of grabens and blocky highlands. The northern coast of the Aegean Sea is composed mainly of gneisses and schists, while the plains are filled with sands, clays and pebbles.
Climate in the mountains of Greece
Unlike the eastern half of the Greek Peninsula, its western part has a more humid and mild climate. In the mountains, up to 1400 mm of precipitation falls, while in the eastern part of Greece on the plains the amount barely reaches 500 mm per year. The heaviest precipitation occurs in November-December, during the period of intense cyclonic processes over the Mediterranean Sea.
In winter in Greece the air temperature is quite high thanks to the warmth of the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, in the northern part of the country the average temperature in January is 4° C. And negative average monthly temperatures of the coldest month of the year are observed only in the mountains at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level, if we talk about the north of the country, in the south of Greece, at an altitude of 1500 meters. However, frosts occur not only in the mountains. Temperature drops in the lowlands are short-lived, and fallen snow melts within a few hours.
The dry period begins in June and continues until the end of August. The average air temperature in the summer months is 40° C.
Hydrography of the mountains of Greece
The territory of mountainous Greece is penetrated by a large number of rivers, the most significant of which are Alkmon, Aheloos, Nestos, Bros, Strymon, and Vardar. Mountain rivers are characterized by narrow canyons, so they are not suitable for navigation. During the year, their flow fluctuates significantly, and during the period of snowmelt, mountain rivers turn into turbulent streams. This allows incredible amounts of water to be stored for use, including during dry periods. Therefore, dams have been built on many rivers and reservoirs have been organized.
Most of the lakes, and there are more than 20 of them in the country, were formed during the movement of the earth's crust. The largest are Prespa, Trichonis
Flora and fauna of the mountains of Greece
One of the most valuable trees growing in Greece is the olive. However, the main species are considered to be pine, cypress, juniper, and plane tree. In the most humid areas of Greece, oak, chestnuts, beech and hornbeam grow. The mountain slopes are covered with thickets of thyme and sage.
quite diverse, while the number of animals is small. In the mountains you can meet hares and badgers, wild boar, fox, lynx, and, occasionally, bear. Wild cats, jackals, and stone martens live in mountain forests. Among the rodents you can find porcupines, voles, and gray hamsters. Quite a lot of reptiles - snakes and lizards.
About 240 bird species breed in Greece, and there are another 150 migratory species. The most common sightings are stork, quail, southern green woodpecker, pheasant, Greek swallow, rock sparrow and many others. Among the predators you can find the black vulture, eagle, and kite. There are 120 species of fish in the rivers and lakes of Greece.
Characteristics of individual mountain regions of Greece
Mountains of Northern Greece
Northern Greece stretches from the Evos River in the east to the Ionian Sea in the west and from the borders with Albania, Romania and Bulgaria in the north to the Aegean Sea in the south. This includes the regions of Thrace and Macedonia. Basically, Northern Greece is dominated by flat terrain, but hills and mountains rise to the north. The highest mountain in Northern Greece is Falakro, or also called Bozdag, with a height of 2232 meters above sea level. More precisely, it is formed by three mountain ranges and, accordingly, has three peaks: in the northwest, the Peak of the Holy Spirit with a height of 1629 meters, the Peak of St. Paul with a height of 1768 meters in the southwest and in the east the Peak of the Prophet Elijah with a height of 2232 meters. Mount Falakro is only 35 percent covered with forests and bushes, making it ideal for mountaineering and skiing.
Mountains of Thessaly
Thessaly is located in the south of the Balkan Peninsula and is bordered by the mountains Pindus, Othrys, Ossa and Olympus. The highest mountain in Thessaly, and indeed throughout Greece, Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest are Stefani (2905 m), Skolio (2912 m) and Mytikas (2917 m). On Olympus there is a national park and reserve of the same name.
Very picturesque is Lake Plastira (the correct name is Tavropos), which is in fact a reservoir designed to irrigate the Thessalian valley during drought and to power a hydroelectric power station. But, thanks to the crystal clear water, picturesque fjords, and convenient geographical location, the lake is ideal for tourists.
In the south-east of Thessaly is the Pelion mountain range, which combines snow-capped peaks that attract ski lovers, incredibly beautiful densely overgrown slopes and wonderful beaches on the coast at its foot.
The highest point of the Agrafon mountain range is 2184 meters above sea level. Not far from the village of Agrafa there is a picturesque lake with rather steep shores, Stefanida, formed relatively recently, in 1963, when the soil subsided. At an altitude of 450 meters above sea level in Smokovu there is a thermal spring.
Mountains of Southern Greece
Southern Greece is located on the Peloponnese Peninsula. One of the highest mountains here is Killini, 2376 meters above sea level. Except for the top it is densely covered with pine and spruce forests.
In the south of the peninsula, on the border of the Messinia and Laconia regions, there is the Taygetos mountain range with its highest point on Mount Agios Ilias 2407 meters above sea level. On the western side of the massif there are many gullies and bare slopes, while on the eastern slope there are many plateaus with fertile soil, fed by small streams.
In the north of the Peloponnese rises the Aroania, or Chelmos, mountain range. Its height is 2355 m.
Mountains of the Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a natural continuation of the mainland mountain ranges of Greece, their total area is more than 2200 km2. The Ionian Islands have a mountainous terrain, with predominantly steep coastlines in the west, while the east is mostly flat. On the islands you can see picturesque bays surrounded by foothills, waterfalls, and caves.
The largest islands are Corfu, Paxos, Levkada, Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Kythira. The largest mountain of the island of Kefalonia reaches a height of 1628 meters, here is the Drogarati cave and the amazing cave lake Milissani.
Mountains of Central Greece
The central part of Greece is occupied by Pindus, the largest mountain range in the country. The several ranges that form the Pindus are separated by deep valleys. The highest point of Pindus is Zmolikas, its height is 2637 meters.
Not far from the border with Albania in the Pindus Mountains lies Grammos, the fourth highest point in Greece. Located at a level of 2523 meters.
In the very center of the country is Mount Vardusia (2495 meters), the seventh highest mountain in Greece. Its top is a group of three peaks.
North of the Gulf of Corinth is Mount Parnassus, which has its highest point near the city of Delphi. The slopes of its mountain are densely covered with vegetation and inhabited by rare species of birds and animals. There is a National Park here, founded in 1938 and covering an area of 3,500 hectares.
Between the Vardussia and Parnassus mountains is the fifth highest mountain in Greece - Gjona (2510 meters). It has picturesque limestone cliffs, ravines, and deep gorges.
Mountains of Crete
There are four mountain ranges on the island: the White Mountains, also called Lefka Ori (2453 meters), the Ida Massif (2434 meters), the Dikti Massif (2148 meters) and the Sitia Mountains (1476 meters). Since the main rock of the local mountains is limestone, it is not surprising that there are more than 3,000 caves on the island. The real wonder of the island is the Samaria National Park, which is one of the deepest gorges in Europe.
Mountains of the Aegean islands
This group includes seven fairly large islands - Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Ikaria, Samothraki, Thassos, and four small islands - Psara, Fourni, Inousses and Agios Efstratios. Rare species of birds and animals live here. The islands are adorned with rocky cliffs, lush forests, endless beaches, and turquoise coves.
On the island of Lesvos, near Eresos, there is a natural wonder - the “Stone Forest”, formed as a result of a volcanic eruption about 20 million years ago. The island of Samos is decorated with two mountain ranges - Ampelos (1095 meters) and Kerkis (1434 meters). The mountains of the island of Ikaria are not high, the highest, Afera, reaches only 1000 meters, but a fairly large number of caves have been discovered in them.
Greece is known to us as one of the cradles of civilization, as the patrimony of many great people, as the source of countless myths and traditions, and, ultimately, as the homeland of a wonderful, cheerful people. And, of course, we can say that it owes its glorious history to the land that sheltered it.
This land is very diverse, almost the entire territory of Greece is covered with mountain ranges, interspersed with rare river valleys, the climate changes sharply with changes in altitude, because it is always warm on the sea coast, and on very close mountain peaks there are snow caps all year round.
So, let's talk about the most famous Greek mountain, familiar to the whole world.
The highest mountain in Greece, without any doubt, can be called the legendary mountain, or rather one of its peaks - Mytikas, reaching 2919 meters above the sea.
Olympus is located on the border between Greece and Macedonia. It consists of more than five dozen peaks with heights ranging from 760 meters to the highest point of 2919 meters.
These peaks are cut through by countless ravines, creating beautiful and rather eerie landscapes. The highest mountain in Greece was conquered only in 1913.
Olympus on the map:
The ancient Greeks believed that Olympus was the home of the twelve main gods.
Under the leadership of their leader, Zeus, they defeated the Titans, after which the world came to order.
The top is always covered with snow, and in clear weather it sparkles under the light of the sun.
The length of the ridge is at least 20 kilometers.
Ordinary tourists only climb to the foot, but people with special training can reach the highest peak in 6 hours.
The base for climbing the mountain and when visiting the reserve is the village of Litokhoron, which is located near the foot.
The territory adjacent to the mountain has been a national reserve for about 75 years. It is known for its rich flora and fauna.
There are even relict animals.
Here you can find deer, badgers, wild boars, and forest wild cats.
Almost 1,700 plants of various species grow on Olympus itself.
The reserve is rich in birch and oak forests, Macedonian spruce trees.
For many centuries, not far from the Dionysius Monastery you can see a unique yew grove.
The name of the mountain has long been a common noun and means something very significant. Thus, even the highest mountain of Mars is called Olympus.
- MOUNTAINS
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