The Pindus Mountains

mountains · Greece · Balkans · geography

The spine of Greece. The Pindus Mountains run north to south along mainland Greece like a giant backbone, which is why locals call it the spine of Greece. This 160-kilometer-long range connects the Greek-Albanian border all the way down to the Peloponnese.

Towering peak. Mount Smolikas, the highest point in the Pindus range, reaches 2,637 meters into the sky. That's almost as tall as some of the world's famous peaks, making it a challenging climb for mountaineers.

Balkan extension. The Pindus Mountains are actually part of a much larger mountain system called the Dinaric Alps, which stretches across the western Balkan Peninsula. This means the Pindus is connected to ancient geological forces that shaped all of southeastern Europe.

Natural divider. Because the Pindus runs right down the middle of Greece, it separates the eastern and western parts of the country and creates distinct regions like Epirus and Macedonia. The mountains influence weather patterns and where people live on both sides.