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'Mount Olympus' (; also transliterated as 'Mount Ólympos', and on modern maps, 'Óros Ólimbos') is the highest mountain in Greece at 2,919 meters high (9,576 feet)^[1]. Since its base is located at sea level, it is one of the highest mountains in Europe, in real absolute altitude from base to top. It is situated at , in mainland Greece. It is located about 100 km away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city.


Mount Olympus is noted for its very rich flora with several endemic species. The highest peak on Mount Olympus is Mitikas at 2,919 meters high (9,576 feet), which in Greek means "nose" (an alternative transliterated spelling of this name is "Mytikas"). Mitikas is the highest peak in Greece, the second highest being Skolio (2912 m). Any climb to Mount Olympus starts from the town of Litochoro, which took the name ''City of Gods'' because of its location on the roots of the mountain.
Mount Olympus is a popular mountain name. Apart from the Greek Olympus, there is one in Cyprus, one in Utah, one in Washington and many others.
==In Greek mythology==
In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus is the home of the Twelve Olympians, the principal gods in the Greek pantheon . The Greeks thought of it as built with crystal mansions wherein the gods, such as Zeus, dwelt. It is also known in Greek mythology that when Gaia gave birth to the Titans they used the mountains in Greece as their thrones since they were so huge, and Cronus sat on Mount Olympus itself.
The etymology and meaning of Olympus (''Olympos'') is unknown, and it may be of Pre-Indo-European origin.

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See also

External links

See also

★ Greek Gods

★ List of tallest mountains by country

★ Twelve Olympians

★ Geography of Greece

External links

★ Mount Olympus

★ Geography of Greece