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Litochoro
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Litochoro (Λιτόχωρο) | |
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| Location | |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 293 m (961 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | Central Macedonia |
| Prefecture: | Pieria |
| Mayor: | Thanasis Tsifodimos (since: 2007) |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City Proper | |
| - Population: | 7,011 |
| Codes | |
| Postal codes: | 602 00 |
| Area codes: | 23520 |
| License plate codes: | KN |
| Website | |
| Olympus.gr | |
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Litochoro (Greek, Modern: Λιτόχωρο, Ancient/Katharevousa Λιτόχωρον, older form: Litochoron) is a town and municipality located in the southern part of the prefecture of Pieria, famous for being on the roots of Mount Olympus. The town is in a distance of around 90 km from Thessaloniki, in the west of the Thermian gulf. The first recorded mention of Litochoro is when Saint Dionysus(Greek: Άγιος Διονύσιος) visited Mount Olympus. A popular town for those wishing to climb Mount Olympus; almost all climbing routes begin to the southwest of Litochoro.
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Litochoro is located 22 km S of Katerini, 90 km SSW of Thessaloniki, 58 km N of Larissa and 420 km WNW of Athens, on the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus, of mythological fame as the home of the twelve gods of Olympus. Pine, cedar and fir trees of the forests of Mount Olympus lie to the southwest and northwest. Much of the land around Litochoro, in particular to the South, remains uncultivated. Farmland is predominant to the North. Litochoro has several restaurants and cafeterias.
East of the town of Litochoro there is an extended coastal area, known with the name Pláka or Pláka Litochorou(Πλάκα Λιτοχώρου), spreading from the foot of Olympus until the Thermaic Gulf and extending from Leptokarya in the south to Gritsa in the north. A part of the E75 highway national road passes through the area of Plaka, in the south of Litochoro. The coast mainly consists of sandy beaches with seaside resorts as well as hotels, campsites, seaside restaurants and beach bars, (which mostly operate during the summer season from June to September). In the area of Plaka there are private residences, luxurious villas and cottages.
North-east of Litochoro (North from Pláka) the costal area continues, known with the name Gritsa or Gritsa Litochorou (Γρίτσα Λιτοχώρου) extending from Pláka in the south to Variko in the north. Sandy beaches can also be found here (as in Pláka) but the tourists' facilities are much less than Pláka's.Yet here are some cottages and a luxury Hotel (Dion resort). Gritsa is also the port of Litochoro though it's capacities are restricted.
Litochoro has schools, banks, a post office, a harbour, a sports centre, a town hall, a hospital, a museum, a concert hall, shopping facilities and squares (plateies). There are two main churches, Agios Nickolaos in the centre and Agios Dimitrios in the North. Litochoro has one of the most traditional cemeteries of Greece, known as Hagios Athanasios, in the north of the town.
Since the 1960s Litochoro has been served by an interchange with GR-1/E75 to its east. In the mid-1990s, the Greek "National Road" from Athens to Thessaloniki was improved in part to "Motorway" standard. Litochoro is on the Northern stretch of this 6 lane dual carriageway, 90 km from Thessaloniki. Its nearest beach is 5 km to the east.
There is a regular bus service to Katerini and a local train service (3 trains daily in each direction) to Thessaloniki and Larissa where there is an interchange with the main line to Athens. Taxis are to be found in abundance.
- Litochoro acquired some fame during the 1999 NATO war in Yugoslavia when allied naval forces arrived on the beach of Gritsa; an action which provoked a reaction by the town's Communists and many people took part in it. The event was broadcast live on CNN International.
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 6,157 | - | - |
| 1991 | 6,667 | 510/-8.28% | 6,864 |
| 2001 | 7,011 | - | - |
Litochoro is one of the few municipalities that has the majority of its population living within the town's boundaries. 197 or 2.95% live outside the town.
- Mapquest - Litochoron, street map not yet available
- Coordinates:
- Litochoro in Google Maps
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| Aiginio • Dio • East Olympos • Elafina • Katerini • Kolindros • Korinos • Litochoro • Methoni • Paralia • Petra • Pierion • Pydna |