Mount Olympus considered for UNESCO World Heritage status
10 reported
Mount Olympus, the mythological home of ancient Greece’s 12 Olympian gods, is being considered for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a mixed cultural and natural site. The nomination is set for discussion when the World Heritage Committee meets in Busan, South Korea from Sunday through July 29. Greece began the process in 2014 by inscribing the mountain on its Tentative List, the mandatory first step. The nomination is far from certain, as a draft agenda indicates the committee will refer it back to Greece and request further details. Locals hope inclusion would bring greater protection to the mountain, which already faces challenges from growing visitor numbers and flouted regulations.
What’s reported
Mount Olympus rises to 2,918 meters from a base practically at sea level.
The nomination is to be discussed at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan, South Korea from Sunday through July 29.
Greece began the process in 2014 by inscribing the mountain on its Tentative List.
A draft agenda indicates the committee will refer the nomination back to Greece and request further details.
An open-air sanctuary on a lower peak has finds dating to the Hellenistic period (323 B.C. to 30 B.C.).
A chapel on the peak of Prophet Elias at 2,803 meters is believed to be the highest altitude chapel in the Christian Orthodox world.
The mountain’s Enipeas Gorge holds remains of a monastery founded in 1542.
The Holy Cave of St. Dionysios is a chapel built into a cave with a small spring believed to carry holy water.
Much of Olympus was designated a national park decades ago, but regulations are often flouted.
Local authorities have considered imposing entrance fees and registering visitor numbers.
Key figures
Evagelos Geroliolios, mayor of Dion-Olympus, based in Litochoro
Babis Marinidis, mountain guide and president of the Alpine Club of Litochoro
Sources: csmonitor.com
