Mount Othrys ( el, όρος Όθρυς – ''oros Othrys'', also Όθρη – ''Othri'') is a mountain range of central Greece, in the northeastern part of Phthiotis and southern part of Magnesia. Its highest summit, ''Gerakovouni'', situated on the border of Phthiotis and Magnesia, is

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of the vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) of a location in reference to a historic mean sea level taken as a vertical datum. In geodesy, it is formalized as ''orthometric heights''. The comb ...

. The population density in the mountains is low: there are a few small villages, including

Anavra Anavra ( el, Ανάβρα) is a village and a former community in Magnesia, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it has been part of the municipality Almyros, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of ...

in the northwest, Kokkotoi in the northeast, Palaiokerasia in the south and Neraida in the southwest. The length from west to east is about and the width from north to south is about . The Pagasetic Gulf lies to the northeast, and the Malian Gulf lies to the south. The summit Gerakovouni lies south of

Almyros Almyros or Halmyros ( el, Αλμυρός, , , ) is a town and a municipality of the regional unit of Magnesia, region of Thessaly, Greece. It lies in the center of prosperous fertile plain known as 'Krokio Pedio', which is crossed by torrents. Alm ...

, northeast of Lamia and southwest of Volos. The peaks of the range are above the tree line. The main mineral constituent of the rock is ophiolite. A

Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectively ...

protected area has been has been defined over much, but not all, of the range according to the Birds Directive. Of interest to the government is the protection of the raptors and the prevention of clear-cutting and other settlement measures that would destroy their traditional habitat. The area, named Oros Othrys, Vouna Gkouras kai Farangi Palaiokerasias, ID GR1430006, includes the eastern range, a spur to the south to cover Palaiokerasia Gorge, and a spur to the north to cover Gkouras Hill.

History

On February 5, 1991, a Lockheed C-130H Hercules 748 crashed into the mountain, killing 63 people.

Mythology

In Greek mythology, Mount Othrys was the base of

Cronus In Ancient Greek religion and mythology, Cronus, Cronos, or Kronos ( or , from el, Κρόνος, ''Krónos'') was the leader and youngest of the first generation of Titans, the divine descendants of the primordial Gaia (Mother Earth) and ...

and the other Titans during the ten-year war with the

Olympian gods upright=1.8, Fragment of a relief (1st century BC1st century AD) depicting the twelve Olympians carrying their attributes in procession; from left to right: Hestia (scepter), Hermes (winged cap and staff), Aphrodite (veiled), Ares (helmet and s ...

known as the Titanomachy. It was also the birthplace of the elder gods, Hestia,

Demeter In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...

Hera In ancient Greek religion, Hera (; grc-gre, Ἥρα, Hḗrā; grc, Ἥρη, Hḗrē, label=none in Ionic and Homeric Greek) is the goddess of marriage, women and family, and the protector of women during childbirth. In Greek mythology, she ...

Hades Hades (; grc-gre, ᾍδης, Háidēs; ), in the ancient Greek religion and myth, is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, although this also ...

and Poseidon. It was assaulted by the Olympians, led by Cronus's son Zeus. Zeus later overthrew his father and gained dominion in all of the heavens and the earth.

Tunnel

Othrys Tunnel ( el, Σήραγγα Όθρυος) is a tunnel long located in the southern section of the Central Greece Motorway, between Lamia and

Xyniada Xyniada ( el, Ξυνιάδα) or Xynias (Ξυνιάς) is a village and a former municipality in Phthiotis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Domokos, of which it is a municipal unit. In the 2011 census, ...

. It passes underneath Othrys mountain. Work began in 2008, along with the rest of the motorway, but stopped in 2011 because of the Greek government-debt crisis. Construction resumed in 2019, along with the rest of the southern section. Its construction has faced challenges. It is the longest road tunnel of the whole motorway and it will be one of the longest in Greece. The tunnel has already been excavated on both sides, as of October 2021.

References

External links

Minerals database

Structural Pertology of Plagioclase Peridotites in the West Othris Mountains

{{in lang, el Locations in Greek mythology Landforms of Phthiotis Othrys Landforms of Magnesia (regional unit) Othrys Natura 2000 in Greece