The highest mountain peak in Greece is Mount Olympus. It reaches a height of 9,570 feet (2,917 meters) above sea level. The ancient Greeks believed that their gods lived on Mount Olympus. From this height, the gods were thought to watch over and take part in the lives of humans. Mount Olympus is on the border of the Greek regions of Macedonia and Thessaly. It is snowcapped and often has cloud cover. Mount Olympus is sometimes called Upper Olympus so that it is not confused with a peak to the south, which is known as Lower Olympus. In 1938 the Olympus area was declared a national park. The park is home to some 1,700 types of plants and many wild animals. |