2010/04/29

Europe, Greece, Mount Olympus (2917 m)

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. In 1981 UNESCO declared Mount Olympus a "International Biosphere Reserve" and in 1987 it was declared a National Park of Greece. The highest peaks there are Mytikas (2917m or 2918.8 according to the latest measurements), Skolio (2911m), Stefani (2909m), also known as "Zeus' throne", Skala (2866m, Agios Antonis (2815m), Profitis Ilias (2803m) and Toumba (2785).

NASA Earth Observatory
Climbing Mount Olympus is a non-technical hike, except for the final 30 minute section from Skala summit to Mitikas summit, which is Yosemite Decimal System class 3 rock scramble. That class means scrambling with increased exposure; a rope can be carried but is usually not required; falls are not always fatal. It is estimated that 10,000 people climb Mount Olympus each year, most of them reaching only the Skolio summit (which does not involve rock scramble). Most climbs to Mount Olympus start from the town of Litochoro, which took the name City of Gods because of its location on the roots of the mountain. From there a road goes to Prionia, where the hike begins at the bottom of the mountain.


Mount Olympus

Coordinates 40°5′00″N 22°21′00″E

Live cams in the area - Plaka-Litochoro

Used information, pictures and video from http://en.wikipedia.org/, http://www.summitpost.org/ and http://www.youtube.com/