Mehmet Çiçek from Pixabay
UNESCO has added Mount Olympus, Greece's highest peak, to its World Heritage List, recognizing the mountain for its outstanding natural and cultural significance.
The decision was adopted unanimously during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, making Mount Olympus one of the few sites worldwide to receive mixed World Heritage status for both its cultural and natural value.
Revered in ancient Greek mythology as the home of the Twelve Olympian gods, Mount Olympus is also one of Europe's most biologically diverse mountain ecosystems. The mountain is home to nearly 2,000 plant taxa, including dozens of endemic species, as well as a wide variety of rare wildlife.
With the addition of Mount Olympus, Greece now has 21 UNESCO World Heritage sites, three of which hold mixed heritage status, recognizing both their exceptional cultural importance and outstanding natural features.
