Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for August 8, 2024. This week we’re featuring the first national park in Greece.
Mount Olympus National Park
Location
On the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, Greece
Claim to fame
Mount Olympus is one of the most famous mountains in the world, owing to its significance in Greek mythology as the home of its ancient gods. Due to its cultural importance, the mountain was set aside as a national park by royal decree in 1938, making it the first national park in Greece. The park is today an important biosphere reserve protecting rare species and an important pathway for migrating birds.
Reason to visit
Mount Olympus is the tallest mountain in Greece and one of the tallest in Europe and has 52 peaks, the tallest of which is Mytikas. Mount Olympus is also massively wide, spreading over 190 square miles (500 sq kilometers).
The mountain has been popular for hikers since ancient times and is today a favorite summit hike in Greece. The park is a haven for wildlife, including 150 bird species and over 40 mammal species, the most iconic being the kri-kri, a wild goat found only in Greece.
Wild Fact
The ancient Olympic games did not take place on or near Mount Olympus. The games originated in ancient Olympia, a coastal Greek community. The games celebrated the god Zeus, thought to live on Mount Olympus, and were named after his home to add to their mythological significance.
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