The highest mountains in Greece list. The highest mountain in Greece. Highest mountain in Hungary

Holidays in Greece have become very popular among Russian residents, especially in last years- years of crisis in Hellas, due to which prices for accommodation and food have dropped significantly. Traveling to this country can be wonderful in many ways: there are amazing landscapes, pleasant climate, seven seas at once, ancient history and culture, magnificent National cuisine and the peculiar mentality of the local population. There is room to turn around!

In this article we will dwell in detail on the natural beauties of Greece, namely the mountain ranges. There are many mountains in Greece, most of the peaks are at an altitude of 1000-1500 meters above sea level, but there are also several impressive peaks rising to 2500 meters and above! Myths give the Greek mountains a special charm Ancient Greece and many other legends of the same period.

The highest point of Hellas is Mytikas, which is part of the Tharsis mountain range. But, to us, it is better known as the legendary Olympus, the abode of Zeus, Hera and other old gods. Olympus is just a little short of the three kilometer mark with a height of 2917 meters. Mytikas is located on the territory of a nature reserve of national importance, and the nearest hotels are 10 kilometers from the foot. If you intend to climb Olympus, ski or bike in its surroundings, then you should settle in Elatochori.

Olympus is a few meters inferior in height to two mountains that are part of the same mountain range: Scolio (2912 meters) and Stephanie (2905 meters). The top five highest mountains in Hellas are Smolikas (2637 meters) and Gamila (2497 meters). It is worth mentioning that a visit to Gamila is also interesting with a walk along one of the picturesque high-mountain alpine lakes Drakolimni.

Some peaks are famous not so much for their height or total area, but for their connection to ancient myths and legends. Mountains of this kind include Parnassus, Athos and Helikon. On the slopes of the latter, for example, there are sacred springs of the ancient Greek muses, if you believe the myths. And on Parnassus, according to the same myths, there was the Delphic oracle founded by Apollo himself.

The Timfi mountain range is of tourist interest. When planning to travel around Greece, you should also stop by and feel the beauty of the high mountain lakes and the mystery of natural vertical caves. There are guided tours to most of these caves. The depth of the Provatina cave is 408 meters, and the Epos cave is as much as 451 meters!

The most convenient way to travel around Greece is by personal car, renting which will help a lot useful service from the site Momondo.ru - traveler's calendar. With its help you can choose an inexpensive hotel with better conditions accommodations and find the lowest airline rates. Finally, we will present you with some general tips regarding bargain purchase air tickets to Athens:

The cheapest tickets can be found on UIA flights, and, on the contrary, consistently high tariffs“famous” for Vueling Airlines;
The best time of year to fly to the capital of Greece, in terms of economy, is mid-January;
Tickets must be booked 2 months before the planned departure date;
And the optimal combination for saving is to fly from Domodedovo Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

Greece...a country rich in vibrant colors, incredible architecture and mysterious story. The place where the most famous and popular gods were born... Probably everyone who read the myths and legends of Ancient Greece dreamed of visiting there! Visit ancient temples and walk along the streets, where every pebble is filled with ancient history.
For those who have decided to fulfill their dream and travel around Greece, you need to carefully think through your route. Indeed, for curious tourists such sights are a real treasure. Behind them there is a whole mythological story associated with the appearance of humanity and the gods. But you definitely need to start your route from the place where the celestials lived. From Mount Olympus.

According to the logic of the ancient Greeks, the gods could only live at an unattainable height. That is why the Greeks, as a mountain people, placed their pantheon on Olympus - the most high mountain in the region. So Mount Olympus is not a myth, but a real massif in the northeast of the country, on the border of Macedonia and Thessaly, only 90 km southwest of modern Thessaloniki.
According to mythology, the palaces on Olympus were built by one-eyed giants, the Cyclopes. Their mysterious tribe was liberated from the kingdom of the dead (Tartarus) by Zeus. In gratitude, they gave him power over thunder and lightning. Hephaestus forged decorations for the palaces in his workshop on Olympus. The entrance there was through a cloud gate, which was guarded by lesser gods.
The dwelling of Zeus and Hera had windows facing Athens, Thebes, Sparta, Corinth, Argos and Mycenae. At the other end of the palace were the servants' rooms, and in the middle were the rooms of the other gods. Homer wrote that the wind does not blow on Olympus, there is no rain or snow, everything there is bathed in jubilant light. And the way there is forbidden to mere mortals...

However, in modern world everything is much simpler. And the route to mysterious mountain Olympus has long been worked out. It has been known for almost 200 years that a real ancient city was located in that place and everyone can look at its ruins. In addition, now people live in those places again, and the ruins of temples are adjacent to fully populated villages.

Mount Olympus also has monuments of Orthodox culture. The most famous of them is the monastery of St. Dionysius, built in the 16th century. at an altitude of 820 m. A little to the west, at an altitude of 1020 m, is the Holy Trinity Monastery, which once owned enormous wealth and was engaged in educational activities. Currently, the monasteries are being actively restored and are operational.
Mount Olympus itself has also become a monument: since 1938, on the territory of the massif there has been a national park established to protect the unique ecosystem. More than 1,700 plant species have been discovered on Olympus and its surroundings, 23 of which are found only here.

But before we talk about climbing, you first need to find out exactly where Mount Olympus is, how to get to it and not go astray.
An ordinary mountain asphalt road from Litochoro to Prionia - the starting point of the most popular route, located at an altitude of 1100 m. Please note: the last section of this section is not paved, so if you are going to drive a rented car, it is better to take care of good insurance in advance.

You can get to Katerini by train or bus from Athens or Thessaloniki. In Katerini you will have to change to another bus going to Litochoro, and then take a taxi or rent a car to Prionia. Or walk if 18 km mountain serpentine they don't scare you. Bus schedules for Pieria can be found here.
The most popular route takes place in 2 stages:
From Prionia at 2100 to the Spilios Agapitos shelter (usually marked as "Shelter A.")
From “Shelter A” to the pass (peak) Skala, from which you can climb Mitikas or Skolio
The entire journey to the top from 1100 m usually takes no more than 5-6 hours. But for inexperienced “conquerors of peaks”, especially with children (the climb is allowed from 8 years old), it makes sense to choose the option of a 2-day hike: 1 day – 1 stage. You should do the same thing if you didn’t go to Mount Olympus early in the morning, when the peaks are not yet covered with clouds.

18-04-2014, 16:50

Mountains of Crete

Ida
The highest mountain on the island of Crete (2456 m). Located in the central part of the island. The Ida mountain range includes five peaks: Timios Stavros (2456 m), Agathias (2424 m), Stolistra (2325 m), Vouloumenou (2267 m) and Kousakas (2209 m). To the east of Ida there is the Nida plateau, the lowest point of which is located at an altitude of 1412 m. In the western part of the plateau there is the entrance to the famous Idaean cave, where, according to ancient Greek mythology, Zeus grew up. Many historical treasures were found in it, including bronze shields from the 7th century BC. e. On the southern slope is the Kamares Cave, where the famous Minoan vessels, called the Kamares vessels, were discovered. Some of them are exhibited in Archaeological Museum Heraklion. The rocky slopes of Ida are covered with a sparse cover of thorny subshrubs, shrubs and tough grasses. On the eastern slopes of the mountain, areas of forests that once covered the entire territory of Crete have been preserved. The Ida mountain range is particularly rich in flat stones, which are well suited for the construction of mitato shepherd's huts. On the northwestern slope is the famous Arkadi monastery.
Lefka Ori
Mountain range in the western part of the island of Crete. Administratively, it is included in the state of Chania. Translated from Greek, the name of the ridge is translated as “white mountains”, which is associated with the snow that covers the mountains until the beginning of summer: precipitation falls here almost exclusively in winter.
Dikti
Mountain range located in the eastern part of the island of Crete. Administratively, it is part of the Lasithi state. The highest peak of the ridge, Spafi Peak, reaches an altitude of 2148 m above sea level. Two more peaks exceed 2000 m: Afentis Christos (2141 m) and Lazaros (2085 m). In the Dikti Mountains there is the Diktean Cave, also called the Psychro Cave, in which, according to ancient Greek mythology, Rhea hid the newborn Zeus from Kronos.

Gorges of Crete

Gorge of Red Butterflies
Gorge in Greece. One of the most beautiful gorges of Crete. On hot days summer days A large number of red butterflies flock to the Orino Gorge, looking for coolness and moisture in this extraordinary place. The Gorge of Red Butterflies originates from the village of Orino and stretches to the village of Koutsouras. The entire trekking route takes 4 hours in summer, but in winter the trekking time increases due to the influx of water in springs and waterfalls. To make the hike easier, there are auxiliary signs.

Gorge of the Dead
A small canyon, about 5 kilometers long, located in the eastern part of Crete. The entrance to the gorge is located near the village of Ano Zakros. The gorge ends on the coast itself, next to the beach and the village of Kato Zakro.

Mesona Gorge
Gorge in Greece. Mesona Gorge is located in Ierapetra, in the eastern part of the village of Kavousi. It is relatively small, because its length reaches 4 km and is connected with the Tripti mountain range. Meson crossing time is 1 hour. The gorge is quite narrow, but level. Its passage requires a bit of rock climbing with ropes. On the last section of the path, the walls of the gorge dramatically change their structure - they become higher. There is water in it only in winter. Those who want to visit this gorge, without good physical preparation, can take a walk at the entrance to it.

Milona Gorge
Gorge in Greece. Located in the Agios Gianis area, a 10-15 minute drive from Ierapetra and stretches to the promenade Kakya Skala, located between the villages of Koutsounari and Ferma. The attraction of this gorge is the enchanting waterfall. There are two ways to reach this waterfall, easier or more difficult. The easy way takes 20 minutes along a recently laid asphalt path with precise direction signs. The more difficult route takes more than 2 hours. Those who wish to follow this path will have to cross the river and conquer small mountain heights. Best period visiting the Milona gorge - early spring, as at this time there are mountain streams of water, creating a magical view of the area.

Samaria Gorge
The largest gorge in Europe, located on the southwestern tip of the island of Crete in the region of Chania. One of the most famous attractions of Crete. The length of the gorge is about 18 kilometers, and the width ranges from 3.5 to 300 meters. The gorge got its name from the village of Samaria, which in turn was named after the church of Osias Marias.

Sarakin Gorge
Gorge in Greece. According to legend, the giant Sarantapichos, the son of the god Dias, crossed the mountains and bent down to drink water from the river. With his long beard he cut the mountain in two, after which a gorge was formed. This gorge acquired its name in honor of its creator Sarakin. Sarakina Gorge is located in the village of Mythi, 20 km from Ierapetra. It is quite flat and easily passable; its main asset is clean water. The length of the gorge is 1.5 km, the time to cross it is approximately 1.5 hours. Its width reaches from 3 to 10 meters, and its height is 150m. In Sarakin there are running waters all year round, the level of which rises in winter period and then the gorge cannot be crossed.

Ha
A gorge located in the eastern part of the island of Crete, Greece. The gorge is located on the western slope of Mount Tripti and opens to the east of the village of Vasiliki. The length of the gorge is about 1.5 km, so Ha is considered one of the most difficult gorges in Crete.

Caves of Crete

Diktean cave
Cave located in the Dictian Mountains above the Lasithi plateau, Crete island, Greece. Located at an altitude of 1024 meters above sea level. It is one of the popular attractions of Crete. For advertising purposes it is often called the Cave of Zeus.
Idea Cave
A cave system located on the slopes of Mount Ida, Crete, Greece. The only entrance to the cave is at 1538 meters. The descent into the cave is equipped with a wooden staircase built into the rock.
Gerospilos Cave
It is located within the region of Rethymnon on the island of Crete. Mentioned in ancient mythology and has archaeological interest. Associated with the heroic and, at the same time, tragic episode of the Greek Revolution.

Pind

Pind
Mountains in the West Balkan Peninsula, in northern Greece and Albania (northern foothills). The largest mountain system in Greece. Located between Thessaly and Epirus, southwest of the Bora Dag ridge. They consist of several ridges separated by deep river valleys. They stretch from north to south for a distance of about 200 km. The height is more than 2000 m, the highest point is Mount Zmolikas - 2637 m. It is composed mainly of limestone, shales, sandstones and flysch. Karst is developed. The Pindus serves as the watershed of the southern Balkan Peninsula between the basins of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, from Lake Ohrid to the south. The southern part of Pindus is occupied by the Agrafa mountain region. On the slopes of Pinda there are subtropical (Mediterranean) shrubs, mixed and coniferous forests. National parks: Pindus and Vikos-Aoos.
Vikos-Aoos
National Park in the Pindus Mountains, in the northeast of the Greek district of Epirus, Ioannina. The park was founded in 1973 and has an area of 126 km², including the Vikos Canyon, Aoosa Gorge, Mount Timfti (the highest peak is Gamila, 2497 m) and several Zagorje villages. To the south of the park is the city of Ioannina, to the northeast are the cities of Kastoria and Kozani. Dragon Lake and Gamila Peak. The Vikos Gorge is the deepest in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records. The canyon, along the bottom of which the Voidomatis River flows, is 12 km long and 1 km deep. In the north national park near the city of Konitsa the river Aoos flows, which then, under the name Vjosa, flows through the territory of Albania, flowing into the Adriatic Sea. Another deep canyon, located in the Balkans - the Tara River canyon in Montenegro.
Vjosa
A river in northwestern Greece and southeastern Albania. The total length is 280 km, 70 of which are in Greece. The area of the basin is 6.6 thousand km², high water in the river is observed from October to May, while in summer the Vjosa is low.
Grammos
Mountain in Greece. It is located in the north-west of the country in the Pindus Mountains, near the border with Albania. The fourth highest peak in Greece. The height of the peak is 2523 m above sea level. Its length is approximately 15 to 20 km and its width is about 15 km.
Zmolikas
Mountain in Greece. It is located in the north-west of the country in the Pindus Mountains. The second highest peak in Greece after Olympus. The height of the peak is 2638 m above sea level. There are two adjacent to the mountain national reserve. Its length is approximately 15 to 20 km from east to west, and its width is about 10 km from north to south. On the western slope of Zmolikas there is one of the alpine-type lakes Drakolimni.
Parnassus
A sacred mountain in Greece (in Phocis), associated, like Olympus, Helikon, Cithaeron, with mythical legends and known for its location at the foot of the Delphic oracle. In a broad sense, Parnassus refers to the mountain range starting from Eta and heading to the southeast, like the border of Locris and Boeotia with Phocis; this mountain range reaches all the way to the Corinthian Sea, called Kirfis (now Sumalies). Its highest point is Delphic Parnassus, with the peaks of Tiphorea and Lykorea (now Liokura, 2459 m), as a result of which it is called double-peaked. Parnassus is covered with forest, and its peaks are covered with snow. At the Delphic temple there were many gorges and cliffs; here was also the famous Castalian spring, dedicated to Apollo and the muses, as a result of which Parnassus itself was considered the seat of the muses.
Timfi
Mountain in Greece. Located in the western part of the country, in the prefecture of Ioannina. The sixth highest peak in Greece. Has three peaks. The height of the highest peak is 2497 m above sea level. Its length is approximately 20 to 25 km from east to west and its width is about 15 km from north to south. On the slope of Timfi there is one of the alpine-type lakes Drakolimni.

Mountains

Agrafa
A mountainous region and historical region in mainland Greece. Covers the territory of the nomes of Evrytania and Karditsa. Is southern part mountain system Pind. There is also a municipality with the same name, but it only covers a small part of the area.
Ataviros
Mountain on the island of Rhodes. Located in the western part of the island. The height of the peak is 1215 m above sea level. Ataviros is the highest point of Rhodes. A radar is installed on the flat top; it belongs to the PHARAOS network and is intended for air traffic control. There are also wind turbines for generating electricity and the ruins of the Temple of Zeus. The summit can be reached via a dirt road. The slopes and peak are covered in places with bushes and grasses.
Athos
The name of the mountain (height 2033 m) and the peninsula of the same name in Macedonia in the north of Eastern Greece, also known as the “Holy Mountain”.
Belasitsa
Small mountain range. The highest point is Mount Radomir (2029 m), located on the border of Bulgaria and Greece. The massif itself is located on the territory of three countries: Greece (45%), Macedonia (35%) and Bulgaria (20%). The length of the ridge is about 60 km, width – up to 9 km.
Vardusya
Mountain in Greece. Located in the central part of the country. The seventh highest peak in Greece. Consists of three groups of peaks, northern, western and southern. The height of the highest peak is 2495 m above sea level. Bauxite mining is underway near the mountain.
Helicon
Mountain in Boeotia (Greece), near the Gulf of Corinth. Height – 1749 meters. On the western slope of the mountain is the Orthodox monastery of Hosios Loukas, included in the list of sites World Heritage UNESCO.
Gjona
Mountain in Greece. It is located in the central part of the country, between the Parnassus and Vardusya mountains. The fifth highest peak in Greece. The height of the peak is 2510 m above sea level. Bauxite mining is underway near the mountain.
Imitos
A mountain located in the east of the Greek capital Athens. The peak reaches 1026 meters.
Kaymakchalan
It is the highest point on Mount Nije. Altitude 2,521 meters above sea level. Located on the border of the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. The peak is covered with bare rocks.
Killini
Mountain in Greece. Located in the central part of the country. The height of the peak is 2374 m above sea level. The second highest mountain in the Peloponnese Peninsula. Covered with pine and spruce forests up to an altitude of 1800 meters. The summit is practically devoid of vegetation. According to legend, Hermes was born on this mountain.
Kinoscephaly
A ridge of several rocky hills with steep slopes, of which two are the most prominent, located in the central part of the Greek historical region Thessaly, near ancient city Scotuss, now defunct. The hills got their name because of their characteristic outlines that resemble the heads of dogs.
Kiteron
Mountain range in Greece. The highest point is Mount Profitis Ilias, 1409 m. On the northern slopes of the ridge there are numerous sources of the Livadostras River, and on the southeastern slopes - the Sarandapotamos River.
Lakmos
Mountain in Greece. Located in the western part of the country, in the prefecture of Ioannina. Has several peaks. The height of the highest peak is 2295 m above sea level. Its length is approximately 30 km and its width is about 25 km.
Lycabetus
Mountain in the center of Athens, the capital of Greece. The height is about 300 meters above sea level. The mountain is famous for the Byzantine church located on it - St. George. Its construction (XI-XII centuries) was associated with the strengthening of the power of the Byzantine Empire and Christianity as a result of the Balkan military campaigns of Emperor Vasily II.
Parnitha National Park
A mountain range north of Athens with a total area of about 300 sq. km. The highest peak in Attica, Karabola, 1413 m high, belongs to it. Most of the ridge is covered with dense coniferous forests: at the foot mostly pine, closer to the top - spruce. Most of the winter the mountain is covered with snow.
Nije
Mountain on the border between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece. The highest point of the mountain is called Kaymakchalan (2,521 meters). The name of this point (Kaymakchalan) is often used to call the mountain itself, this is especially common in Greece.
Olympus
Highest mountain range in Greece (2917 m). National Park. The mountain is located in the northeast of Thessaly. In ancient times it served as the natural border of Thessaly and Macedonia. Three most high peaks Olympus is called Mytikas (2917 m), Scolio (2912 m) and Stefani (2905 m). In ancient Greek mythology, Olympus is sacred mountain, the seat of the gods led by Zeus. In this regard, the Greek gods are often called "Olympians." On the northern slope there was a city-sanctuary of the Macedonians - Dion, that is, the city of Zeus.
Ossa
A mountain peak in Thessaly, separated from Mount Olympus by a narrow river valley. According to legends, the mountain is the homeland of centaurs, mythical creatures demihumans.
Oh and
Mountain in the southeastern part Greek island Euboea. Located in the prefecture of Ebia, near the city of Karystos, 30 km east of the city of Chalkis. The maximum height of the mountain is 1372 m. The mountain and its surroundings are known for ancient megalithic buildings, which in the local language are called dracospita.
Parnon
Mountain range in Greece. Located in the southeast of the Peloponnese Peninsula. The length is about 100 km, the height is up to 1935 m. The eastern slope is steep, the western slope is gentle. The slopes are covered with bushes. Pine and fir forests grow on the peaks.
Pelion
A mountain in the southeast of Thessaly, between the Babeian lake, the Pagassian Gulf and the Aegean Sea. Many events from Greek myths unfold on this mountain and in its surroundings.
Pentelikon
A mountain in Greece with a height of 1,109 m, located 23 km northeast of Athens. About 60-70% of its surface is covered with forests.
Rhodope Mountains
Mountains on the Balkan Peninsula, in Bulgaria (83%) and Greece (17% of the massif). The area of the Rhodopes is 14,737 km², of which 12,233 km² belong to Bulgaria (mainly in the Kardzhali and Smolyan regions). The length of the massif is about 220 km, width – 100–120 km, average height above sea level – 785 m.
Taygetos
Mountain range 75 km long. Highest point– 2404 m, Mount Agios Ilias (Russian: St. Elijah). Located in the Balkans in Greece in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula. It consists mainly of crystalline schists and limestones. The highest peaks are covered with snow in winter. On the eastern slopes is the city of Sparta.
Timphristos
A mountain in central Greece, on the territory of the Evrytania nome. Height – 2315 m. It is part of the Pindus mountain range. It is located 12 km from Karpenision, the capital of Evrytania.
Falakro
Mountain in Greece. Located in the north of the country. Has several peaks. The height of the highest peak (Elias Profitis) is 2232 m above sea level. It is the highest mountain in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Located at an altitude of 1700 m ski resort open in winter time. It is located just above the village of Volaka.
Enos
Highest Mountain peak Kefalonia islands in Greece. Its height is 1628 m. Most of the mountain range has the legal status of a national park.
Erymanthos
Mountain in Greece. Located on the Peloponnese Peninsula. Has several peaks. The height of the highest peak (Olenos) is 2224 m above sea level. The fourth highest mountain in the Peloponnese Peninsula. The slopes are covered with forests, usually mountainous, up to an altitude of 1000–1600 m; higher up there are alpine meadows and rocky heaths.

The White Mountains (Levka Ori) is a large mountain range 40 km long, with 50 peaks from 2000 to 2253 meters, located in the southwest of the island of Crete.

They got their name from the eternally white peaks of the mountains, in which about 50 gorges are hidden.

If you are going to the mountains, you will definitely need very good physical condition, hiking experience and a very good sense of direction, since the chance of getting lost in these mountains is very high.

Snow covers most peaks until June. The peaks consist mainly of large rocks and gravel, making climbing on the steep slopes very difficult.

Nearby southern slopes covered with greenery - cypress, oaks and pines, and hinterland have more moisture. The White Mountains are home to rare species of animals, birds and reptiles.

Dikti Mountains

Dikti is a mountain range in the east of the island of Crete. It is here that the famous Dictaean cave is located, in which, according to the mythical legend, the goddess Rhea gave birth to Zeus. Her husband Kronos had a bad habit - in view of his predicted death from one of his children, Kronos devoured all the offspring that Rhea bore to him. Not wanting to put up with this state of affairs, Rhea hid Zeus in the Dictaean cave.

To get to the Dictaean Cave you need to drive 35 kilometers west from the city of Agios Nikolaos, and then walk more than a kilometer along the foot of the mountain. If you find the climb difficult, you can always rent a donkey. The cave itself remained an excavation site for a long time - many figurines and ceramics dedicated to Zeus were found here.

White Mountains and Lake Kourna

The White Mountains and Lake Kourna are one of the most amazing and fascinating places on Earth. Beautiful mountain, two thousand meters high, will force any rock climbing enthusiast to at least try to climb to its peak, covered with white snow. Even from the foot of the snow-capped giant there is an excellent view of the area extending near the mountains, not to mention what can be seen from the top.

Not far from the mountain, Lake Kurna, with a circumference of three and a half kilometers, overflowed. There are a large number of legends about this lake, one of which says that this lake has no bottom. However, if you believe the measurements, the maximum depth of this lake reaches 23 meters. When the mountain casts its reflection on the water surface of the lake, everyone will involuntarily admire this delightful spectacle.

Dictey Mountains

Diktean Mountains (another name is Dikti) is a mountain range in the east of the island of Crete, located in the Lassithi region. On the peaks at an altitude of 1024 meters above sea level there is the Dictey Cave.

Dikti is famous for this particular cave - guides bring tourists here from all over the world. This is the most popular tourist site the island of Crete, famous for the fact that here, according to ancient Greek mythology, the newborn Zeus was hidden from Kronos.

To Dicteysky mountain range can be reached by donkeys - the area is famous for its steep paths, and the ascent is only possible on animals. The entrance to the cave is paid, you go down there along a metal staircase, inside it there is electric lighting, which will allow you to see Zeus’s hideout in detail. From the entrance one can admire the stunning views of the Lasithi Valley.

The ancient Greeks inhabited southern part Balkan Peninsula, numerous islands Aegean Sea and the western coastline of Asia Minor. The Hellespont Strait (modern Dardanelles), the Sea of Marmara and the Thracian Bosporus Strait (modern Bosphorus) connected the Aegean Sea with the Euxine Pontus (Black Sea). total area occupied by the ancient Greeks (together with the islands) was small, no more than 65,000 km 2.

More than 80% of the entire territory of mainland Greece is covered with mountains. IN western Greece mountain ranges Most of them rise directly from the sea and the coast here has almost no convenient harbors. In the eastern part, mountain arcs facing east stretch across the islands of the Aegean Sea, ending in Asia Minor. The coast here is very indented and forms a number of large and small harbors convenient for anchoring ships. As a result of repeated rise and fall of the land, as well as frequent earthquakes, the regularity of the ridges was disrupted.

The close proximity of mountains and the sea, deep valleys and plateaus located at different altitudes, as well as strong dissection coastline constitute the most characteristic surface feature of Greece. Although the mountains of the Southern Balkans are not high - the highest peaks do not reach 3 km above sea level - they nevertheless created rocky barriers between individual areas, the center of which was either lowland or plateau. Communication between regions was maintained along mountain passes or dry river beds. In winter, when snow covered the mountains, economic ties between regions became difficult.

If volcanic activity once gave rise to ideas about Hephaestus, who later became the patron of peaceful craft work, earthquakes were reflected in the idea of a terrible deity, “earthshaker Poseidon,” who split mountains with a trident and flooded coastal areas with the sea. We know about strong earthquakes both in mainland Greece and on the islands and in Asia Minor. Earthquakes were often accompanied by tidal waves of great force, landslides and landslides.

Even now, vibrations of the earth in Greece, of greater or lesser force, occur almost monthly. The mountains of Greece were once covered with a variety of vegetation. However, many of them, due to lack of moisture, weathering of the soil and predatory farming methods, lost their cover in ancient times.

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