The wider area of Mount Olympus: Greece's highest mountain on the World Heritage List

Background

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and lies in the north of the country. The UNESCO World Heritage Centre inscribed 'The wider area of Mount Olympus' as a serial property covering 18,938 hectares, under criteria (vi) and (x). Its sharp central ridge is described as the Mytikas-Stefani complex. In ancient Greek belief the mountain was the home of the Twelve Olympian Gods led by Zeus, together with the Muses and the Graces, and the writings of Hesiod and Homer made it a central reference point of Greek mythology. Its landforms include glacial cirques, limestone cliffs, karstic sinkholes and deep gorges such as the Enipeas, and it served as a glacial refuge for forest species.