Mount Olympus added to UNESCO World Heritage List: Greece's 12-year initiative yields results

Mount Olympus, the highest peak in Greece, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The decision was unanimously approved at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan, South Korea.

The mountain, considered in Greek mythology to be the legendary home of the twelve Olympian gods, was registered as a natural and cultural heritage site of "outstanding universal value." Thus, Olympus has gained protected status as the common heritage not only of Greece but of all humanity.

In a joint statement, the Greek Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment and Energy stated that the decision is one of the most important international recognitions in the field of protecting cultural and natural heritage. The statement emphasized that the outstanding universal value of the vast geography of Olympus has been officially recognized.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also described the decision as a "first-rate national success" in a post on his social media account. Mitsotakis stated, "From today, the legendary Olympus is not only the mountain of Greece but of all humanity, and it must be protected forever."

The inclusion of Olympus on the list comes after 12 years of efforts by Greece. The 2,918-meter-high mountain stands out not only for its impressive natural landscape but also for its mythological, historical, and cultural significance.

The region was considered in the UNESCO evaluation for both its natural and cultural dimensions, with its rich biodiversity, endemic plant and animal species, archaeological sites, and historical heritage.

OTHER SITES ADDED TO THE LIST

At the same session, the five beaches that were the scene of the Normandy landings during World War II were also added to the World Heritage List. These sites were evaluated for their historical remains, which played a critical role in the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

The committee also included Japan's ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, the Boma-Badingilo Migratory Landscape in South Sudan, and various architectural, archaeological, and natural heritage sites from different countries on the list.