From the bright peaks of the Mediterranean to the dark fjords of the Arctic, mountain ranges weave intricate patterns across the landscape of Europe, supplying the texture and definition responsible for much of the continent’s beauty and appeal. Cliffs and ridges of clean rock dropping into the Aegean provide spectacular settings for the temples and monasteries that grace the mountains of Greece. North of the Mediterranean the snow peaks of the Alps swirl around in a great arc to divide the cloudy reaches of northern Europe from the sunlit regions of the south. The spirits of legendary figures of the past still stalk the crags and moors that cover the hills of the British Isles. Ghost-like memories of Norse gods haunt the mountains and fjords of Scandinavia, adding to the atmosphere of mystery that hovers like mist over the lonely fjords and mountains of the Arctic north.