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Macedonia: The Magnificent Country that Surprises
- Ersteller Zoran
- Erstellt am
Bacerll
Griechos Radicalos!!
By comparison, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Bolivia, Russia, Nigeria, Norway, Iran, Latvia, Denmark, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Australia, France, Pakistan, and Italy are the countries ranked worst in terms of safety, cost, and friendly spirit of population.
Zoran
Μακεδоν τ
[h=3]5 Masterpieces of Nature in Macedonia[/h]
The landscapes here in Macedonia, which are mostly mountainous, are ornamented with breathtaking mountain rivers, waterfalls hidden deep in the forests, and clear and cold mountain lakes. Life, in all its forms, thrives in a place like this, from rare species to marvelous green landscapes. We’re proud and excited to present to you the five masterpieces of nature in Macedonia.
If you were wondering where to start your Macedonian adventure, the right answer would probably be Ohrid. No other place in the country can offer you so much and yet be so diverse. These waters hide the history of many species, relict creatures from one of the oldest lakes in Europe. Ohrid Lake lies at an altitude of 693 meters, it covers picturesque area of about 350 sq. km and is known for its crystal clear water, which is allows for visibility down to an astonishing 22 meters.
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia via Shutterstock*
Ohrid Lake deserves the epithet “Macedonian Sweetwater Sea”, not only because of its pleasant blue colour, which is more intense than the blue of the sky, but also because of its surface area and because it attracts thousands of tourists each summer. Its singular natural conditions have made the survival of life forms from the Tertiary period possible, owing to which Ohrid Lake has often been called a museum of living fossils. In 1979 and 1980, the surrounding beauties and the town of Ohrid together with the lake were declared as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the only one in Macedonia.
MORE:
Summer in Macedonia
It is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe which kept an amazing variety of unique flora and fauna within it. It is an excellent tour location and it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. On its northern shore, the ancient city of Ohrid rises above the lake as a colossal piece of scenery, located on a double hill with highest point at Samuel’s Fortress. The famous Ohrid pearls are made from the scales of the endemic Ohrid Lake Plasica fish which makes them unique in the world. Ohrid pearl is without a doubt the best souvenir from Ohrid, as well as the most appropriate gift for a lady.
Ohrid is also a host of two additional natural processes one of which is the source of the river Crn Drim which is located near the Monastery of St. Naum and exits the lake at the city of Struga. The second is a lot more interesting and has to do with the geographical position of Ohrid. Namely, Ohrid is at an altitude of 693 meters and is bordered with the mountain and National Park Galicica on its eastern shores and on the other side of Galicica is Lake Prespa which is at an altitude 853 meters. The two lakes are connected by an underground river flowing from Prespa to Ohrid, an amazing feat of nature.
Ohrid view from Galicica (Photo by: By Inge)
You can continue your exploring tour by visiting Pelister Mountain which is characterized by lush, well-watered forests and unique geological formations. The core of the mountain is made of granite some 465 million years old. The oldest national park in Macedonia has been named after the mountain peak Pelister, it includes the top of Pelister (2,601m) and extends to the foot of Baba Mountain. Baba Mountain is probably the most visited mountain in Macedonia by the tourists and the mountain climbers, due to the natural beauties of the mountain, easy access, good marked trails and numerous places to stay.
Baba Mountain overlooks the city of Bitola and it’s the third highest mountain in Macedonia. It has more than 20 peaks over 2,000 meters above sea level separated by deep valleys and its highest peak is Pelister (2,601m). Pelister Mountain is best known for indigenous species of five-needle pine – Molika, that grows only on a few parts of the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diversified wildlife, the endemic Pelister trout and pelagonic stream trout which are two species that particularly strike out from the rest of the species. Baba Mountain is beautiful in every season, but usually the period from May to September is the best to enjoy climbing, hiking and mountain biking.
At the top of the mountain lies our third masterpiece of nature, the two glacial lakes, Big and Small Lake also known as the eyes of Pelister, because of the image that appears when the sun is reflected to them. High in the mountain slopes there are many glacial lakes as a further ornament of the Macedonian mountain view, but these two are special. A rare beauty remembered by a touching romantic legend Gorski Oci also known as Pelister (mountain’s) Eyes. The Big Lake is at an altitude of 2,218 meters, it’s 233 meters long and 162 meters wide. Its biggest depth is 14,5 meters, The altitude of The Small Lake is 2,180 meters, it’s 79 meters long and 162 meters wide (same as the Big Lake). But, the depth is smaller and it’s 2,6 meters.
Big Lake (photo by: National Park of Pelister)
There is a legend about their formation, it’s said that the lakes are formed from the tears of the two sisters who were in love with the same, beautiful boy named Pelister. Their mother didn’t allow neither of them to marry him, so in a moment of anger, she sent both of them to the mountain and cursed them to be close, but not to be able to see each other. Wandering through the forest, one of the sisters came to the place where today is the Big Lake and the other sister to the place where the Small Lake is. Both of them, heart-broken began to cry. They were crying so much that, the two beautiful lakes formed from their tears. You can’t tell which of them is more beautiful and more picturesque – is it the Big Lake, in which the snowy mountain chain of Baba is reflected, or the Small Lake, in which the thirsty wild horses drink cold water clean as a tear-drop. Thus, because of their rarity and big altitude, these two lakes were one of the options with whom Macedonia was presented at the competition about the election of new seven wonders of the world.
Read more
Copyright © 2014 by My Destination. This article was written by Vilma Ristova and Marko Aleksov and originally published at My Destination Macedonia
QUELLE
The landscapes here in Macedonia, which are mostly mountainous, are ornamented with breathtaking mountain rivers, waterfalls hidden deep in the forests, and clear and cold mountain lakes. Life, in all its forms, thrives in a place like this, from rare species to marvelous green landscapes. We’re proud and excited to present to you the five masterpieces of nature in Macedonia.
If you were wondering where to start your Macedonian adventure, the right answer would probably be Ohrid. No other place in the country can offer you so much and yet be so diverse. These waters hide the history of many species, relict creatures from one of the oldest lakes in Europe. Ohrid Lake lies at an altitude of 693 meters, it covers picturesque area of about 350 sq. km and is known for its crystal clear water, which is allows for visibility down to an astonishing 22 meters.
Lake Ohrid, Macedonia via Shutterstock*
Ohrid Lake deserves the epithet “Macedonian Sweetwater Sea”, not only because of its pleasant blue colour, which is more intense than the blue of the sky, but also because of its surface area and because it attracts thousands of tourists each summer. Its singular natural conditions have made the survival of life forms from the Tertiary period possible, owing to which Ohrid Lake has often been called a museum of living fossils. In 1979 and 1980, the surrounding beauties and the town of Ohrid together with the lake were declared as a Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the only one in Macedonia.
MORE:
Summer in Macedonia
It is one of the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe which kept an amazing variety of unique flora and fauna within it. It is an excellent tour location and it attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. On its northern shore, the ancient city of Ohrid rises above the lake as a colossal piece of scenery, located on a double hill with highest point at Samuel’s Fortress. The famous Ohrid pearls are made from the scales of the endemic Ohrid Lake Plasica fish which makes them unique in the world. Ohrid pearl is without a doubt the best souvenir from Ohrid, as well as the most appropriate gift for a lady.
Ohrid is also a host of two additional natural processes one of which is the source of the river Crn Drim which is located near the Monastery of St. Naum and exits the lake at the city of Struga. The second is a lot more interesting and has to do with the geographical position of Ohrid. Namely, Ohrid is at an altitude of 693 meters and is bordered with the mountain and National Park Galicica on its eastern shores and on the other side of Galicica is Lake Prespa which is at an altitude 853 meters. The two lakes are connected by an underground river flowing from Prespa to Ohrid, an amazing feat of nature.
Ohrid view from Galicica (Photo by: By Inge)
You can continue your exploring tour by visiting Pelister Mountain which is characterized by lush, well-watered forests and unique geological formations. The core of the mountain is made of granite some 465 million years old. The oldest national park in Macedonia has been named after the mountain peak Pelister, it includes the top of Pelister (2,601m) and extends to the foot of Baba Mountain. Baba Mountain is probably the most visited mountain in Macedonia by the tourists and the mountain climbers, due to the natural beauties of the mountain, easy access, good marked trails and numerous places to stay.
Baba Mountain overlooks the city of Bitola and it’s the third highest mountain in Macedonia. It has more than 20 peaks over 2,000 meters above sea level separated by deep valleys and its highest peak is Pelister (2,601m). Pelister Mountain is best known for indigenous species of five-needle pine – Molika, that grows only on a few parts of the Balkan Peninsula. The beauty of the landscape is enhanced by the diversified wildlife, the endemic Pelister trout and pelagonic stream trout which are two species that particularly strike out from the rest of the species. Baba Mountain is beautiful in every season, but usually the period from May to September is the best to enjoy climbing, hiking and mountain biking.
At the top of the mountain lies our third masterpiece of nature, the two glacial lakes, Big and Small Lake also known as the eyes of Pelister, because of the image that appears when the sun is reflected to them. High in the mountain slopes there are many glacial lakes as a further ornament of the Macedonian mountain view, but these two are special. A rare beauty remembered by a touching romantic legend Gorski Oci also known as Pelister (mountain’s) Eyes. The Big Lake is at an altitude of 2,218 meters, it’s 233 meters long and 162 meters wide. Its biggest depth is 14,5 meters, The altitude of The Small Lake is 2,180 meters, it’s 79 meters long and 162 meters wide (same as the Big Lake). But, the depth is smaller and it’s 2,6 meters.
Big Lake (photo by: National Park of Pelister)
There is a legend about their formation, it’s said that the lakes are formed from the tears of the two sisters who were in love with the same, beautiful boy named Pelister. Their mother didn’t allow neither of them to marry him, so in a moment of anger, she sent both of them to the mountain and cursed them to be close, but not to be able to see each other. Wandering through the forest, one of the sisters came to the place where today is the Big Lake and the other sister to the place where the Small Lake is. Both of them, heart-broken began to cry. They were crying so much that, the two beautiful lakes formed from their tears. You can’t tell which of them is more beautiful and more picturesque – is it the Big Lake, in which the snowy mountain chain of Baba is reflected, or the Small Lake, in which the thirsty wild horses drink cold water clean as a tear-drop. Thus, because of their rarity and big altitude, these two lakes were one of the options with whom Macedonia was presented at the competition about the election of new seven wonders of the world.
Read more
Copyright © 2014 by My Destination. This article was written by Vilma Ristova and Marko Aleksov and originally published at My Destination Macedonia
QUELLE
Zoran
Μακεδоν τ
[h=1]Macedonia: the pearl of Balkans[/h] March 11, 2015Travel blog
Home » Travel blog » Macedonia: the pearl of Balkans
Here the other article: Ohrid: the heart of Macedonia.
There are some places that I dream of since I was a kid. I’d love to visit Greenland once in my life with its incredible landscapes. Another of my dreams is to visit the massive Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Certainly Macedonia wasn’t on my bucket list. Not even on my personal top 50 list of countries to visit.
How did I end up on a plane heading to Skopje? To be honest I’m still not certain. In few seconds I went from surfing the web to paying a low cost flight from Milan to Skopje, without thinking if it was really worth spending my holidays in the Balkans. But one of the best thinks about travelling is visiting places that we don’t know much about. And this can be hard in our days because since we have internet we can virtually visit any place from our living room. But Macedonia is still an almost unknown country for most of the people.
Just try to Google some info about things to do in Macedonia and you will find out what I’m talking about. Few information available about places outside the capital. After all: how many people do you know that have visited Macedonia?
The first thing I discovered was really good! Macedonia is a very cheap country compared to other European countries. On average, during the low season, you can spend as low as 15€ per night in hotel (find some deals on Agoda) and you can eat in the center of Skopje with just 6/7€.
To be 100% honest this wasn’t my first time in Macedonia. On 2011 during a solo trip to Greece I visited the small village of Dojran, but it was just for few hours. So this time I spent more time in this country.
[h=2]Info about Macedonia[/h]
If we exclude Skopje, the capital, and Ohrid, read more here, the rest of the country is still an unexplored tourist destination. And this is good because the people are very friendly and genuine. Somenthing rare in the most famous tourist destination. Sometimes you won’t even feel in Europe. Right know the flights from other countries are few and probably this is one of the reasons why few people consider Macedonia as their destination.
Macedonia is a landlocked country that is geographically clearly defined by a central valley formed by the Vardar river and framed along its borders by mountain ranges. The country is part of a region called with the same name (where Alexander the Great was born) that include also northen Greece and a small part of Bulgaria.
It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but, as a result of an ongoing dispute with Greece over use of the name Macedonia, it was admitted under the provisional description of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
Just a question: dear Greek friends, why do you care so much about this name?
During this trip I crossed the border between Greece and Macedonia and the first thing that they did at the customs in Greece was put the small sticker that you see in the picture on my rented car. I really wanted to ask: so what? but I didn’t want to waste my time. Just google and you will find so many people arguing about this name.
Walking in the streets of the capital you will find so many different ethnicities. According to the last census data the largest ethnic group in the country are the Macedonians, but you will also find Albanians, Romani, Serbs, Bosniaks, Aromanians and other minorities. I had the feeling that this peaceful coexistence is fragile. Maybe just a feeling, I don’t know.
[h=2]Things to do in Macedonia[/h]
What are some things to do in Macedonia? The most famous destinations are Skopje, the capital, and Ohrid, a beautiful lake close to Albania.
Skopje is not big and one day is enough to visit the old town and the city center. If you have more days you can do a one day trip to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, by bus.
Ohrid is about 3 hours drive from Skopje and I strongly suggest you to go there. After all a trip in Macedonia is not complete if you don’t see Ohrid.
Ohrid is one of the most beautiful places in Macedonia
On your way to Ohrid make a deviation to Mavrovo, a national park and a winter sports center, to see the half-submerged church in the lake. Sadly when I went there the lake was almost dry…
Mavrovo church
Not far from Ohrid you will find two more lakes: the Great Prespa Lake (divided between Albania, Greece and Macedonia) and The Small Prespa Lake (in Grecia). This is not a tourist destination and if you are looking for a genuine place to meet local people and a beautiful landscape, it’s definitely the place to go.
On the Great Prespa Lake you will see the only Island in Macedonia: Golem Grad aka the snake island. Why this name? Because it is home to several different communities snakes. Apart from the animals, the island is currently uninhabited.
Golem Grad: the snake island
The Small Prespa Lake has been recognized as an important wetland ecosystems favoring breeding and feeding of rare water bird species. It is best known for hosting the largest breeding colony of the Dalmatian pelican in the world. But if you want to photograph these amazing bird it’s much easier in Kerkini, Greece.
If you want to visit the Prespa Lakes keep in mind that the border with Greece close to Dolno Dupeni is closed since 1963 and for this reason you have to drive as far as to Bitola. Then keep driving towards Florina (in Greece) then drive back towards Prespa. I really want to thank the Google Maps team: for some reason they didn’t update the map and I drove for more than 3 hours just to get to a border closed for more than 50 years!!!
[h=2]Final considerations[/h]Visiting Macedonia is not just an holiday, but it’s like traveling back into the past. And in some places it seems that the time has stopped. In the remotest parts of the country you will see people still using horses as the main mean of transportation and the contrast between Skopje and the other places can be sometimes shocking.
Macedonia is a poor country where people in the capital don’t make more that 450€ per month and 300€ in the rest on the country. But some people work for as low as 150€ per month. Unemployment rate is very high and the cost of living, for those who live and work there, is quite high.
Poverty is evident also in the center of Skopje
Even though life can be tough, the people are just great. The capital was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1963, then rebuilt. Macedonians survived the dictatorship of Tito and the falls of the yugoslav government. Today people of many different backgrounds and nationalities live peacefully. It’s amazing to see Christians and Muslims living so close without any problem and churches and Mosques built side by side: something impossible in Italy (where I come from).
Well done Macedonia!
Here more info about another amazing place in Macedonia: Ohrid.
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Here the other article: Ohrid: the heart of Macedonia.
There are some places that I dream of since I was a kid. I’d love to visit Greenland once in my life with its incredible landscapes. Another of my dreams is to visit the massive Gobi Desert in Mongolia. Certainly Macedonia wasn’t on my bucket list. Not even on my personal top 50 list of countries to visit.
Just try to Google some info about things to do in Macedonia and you will find out what I’m talking about. Few information available about places outside the capital. After all: how many people do you know that have visited Macedonia?
The first thing I discovered was really good! Macedonia is a very cheap country compared to other European countries. On average, during the low season, you can spend as low as 15€ per night in hotel (find some deals on Agoda) and you can eat in the center of Skopje with just 6/7€.
In Skopje you will find the best Kebap in the Balkans.
To be 100% honest this wasn’t my first time in Macedonia. On 2011 during a solo trip to Greece I visited the small village of Dojran, but it was just for few hours. So this time I spent more time in this country.
[h=2]Info about Macedonia[/h]
If we exclude Skopje, the capital, and Ohrid, read more here, the rest of the country is still an unexplored tourist destination. And this is good because the people are very friendly and genuine. Somenthing rare in the most famous tourist destination. Sometimes you won’t even feel in Europe. Right know the flights from other countries are few and probably this is one of the reasons why few people consider Macedonia as their destination.
Macedonia is a landlocked country that is geographically clearly defined by a central valley formed by the Vardar river and framed along its borders by mountain ranges. The country is part of a region called with the same name (where Alexander the Great was born) that include also northen Greece and a small part of Bulgaria.
It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991. It became a member of the United Nations in 1993, but, as a result of an ongoing dispute with Greece over use of the name Macedonia, it was admitted under the provisional description of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”
Just a question: dear Greek friends, why do you care so much about this name?
During this trip I crossed the border between Greece and Macedonia and the first thing that they did at the customs in Greece was put the small sticker that you see in the picture on my rented car. I really wanted to ask: so what? but I didn’t want to waste my time. Just google and you will find so many people arguing about this name.
Walking in the streets of the capital you will find so many different ethnicities. According to the last census data the largest ethnic group in the country are the Macedonians, but you will also find Albanians, Romani, Serbs, Bosniaks, Aromanians and other minorities. I had the feeling that this peaceful coexistence is fragile. Maybe just a feeling, I don’t know.
[h=2]Things to do in Macedonia[/h]
What are some things to do in Macedonia? The most famous destinations are Skopje, the capital, and Ohrid, a beautiful lake close to Albania.
Skopje is not big and one day is enough to visit the old town and the city center. If you have more days you can do a one day trip to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, by bus.
Ohrid is about 3 hours drive from Skopje and I strongly suggest you to go there. After all a trip in Macedonia is not complete if you don’t see Ohrid.
On your way to Ohrid make a deviation to Mavrovo, a national park and a winter sports center, to see the half-submerged church in the lake. Sadly when I went there the lake was almost dry…
Not far from Ohrid you will find two more lakes: the Great Prespa Lake (divided between Albania, Greece and Macedonia) and The Small Prespa Lake (in Grecia). This is not a tourist destination and if you are looking for a genuine place to meet local people and a beautiful landscape, it’s definitely the place to go.
On the Great Prespa Lake you will see the only Island in Macedonia: Golem Grad aka the snake island. Why this name? Because it is home to several different communities snakes. Apart from the animals, the island is currently uninhabited.
The Small Prespa Lake has been recognized as an important wetland ecosystems favoring breeding and feeding of rare water bird species. It is best known for hosting the largest breeding colony of the Dalmatian pelican in the world. But if you want to photograph these amazing bird it’s much easier in Kerkini, Greece.
If you want to visit the Prespa Lakes keep in mind that the border with Greece close to Dolno Dupeni is closed since 1963 and for this reason you have to drive as far as to Bitola. Then keep driving towards Florina (in Greece) then drive back towards Prespa. I really want to thank the Google Maps team: for some reason they didn’t update the map and I drove for more than 3 hours just to get to a border closed for more than 50 years!!!
[h=2]Final considerations[/h]Visiting Macedonia is not just an holiday, but it’s like traveling back into the past. And in some places it seems that the time has stopped. In the remotest parts of the country you will see people still using horses as the main mean of transportation and the contrast between Skopje and the other places can be sometimes shocking.
Macedonia is a poor country where people in the capital don’t make more that 450€ per month and 300€ in the rest on the country. But some people work for as low as 150€ per month. Unemployment rate is very high and the cost of living, for those who live and work there, is quite high.
Even though life can be tough, the people are just great. The capital was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1963, then rebuilt. Macedonians survived the dictatorship of Tito and the falls of the yugoslav government. Today people of many different backgrounds and nationalities live peacefully. It’s amazing to see Christians and Muslims living so close without any problem and churches and Mosques built side by side: something impossible in Italy (where I come from).
Well done Macedonia!
Here more info about another amazing place in Macedonia: Ohrid.
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Zoran
Μακεδоν τ
Ok, Ohrid ist absolut auf der to-do-Liste. Von Skopje weiß ich, dass man da gut essen kann. Und scheinbar sind dort auch Burger mit Fleisch in wirklich guter Qualität in diverser Form sehr beliebt. Aber wo genau gibt es da nun den besten Kebap des Balkan?
In Bosnien und Makedonien.
Pozdrav
In Bosnien und Makedonien.
Pozdrav
Aber in dem Artikel steht Skopje:thefinger:
Zoran
Μακεδоν τ
Ja in Ohrid (dder Autor scheint nur in SK und OH gewesen zu sein) ist der Kebap nicht toll, liegt daran das Fischgerichte dort eher Tradition haben.
Pozdrav
T
tetovë1
Guest
Sie haben keine Berechtigung Anhänge anzusehen. Anhänge sind ausgeblendet.
vielleicht gibts eine art Wettbewerb im höher bauen
Ethnikistis
ΕΛΛΑΣ ΕΛΛ&
the magnificient country that surprises , zoran du hast doch einen knall malaka 
:geil: surprising diebstahl of andernleuts culture und history du komplex
:geil: surprising diebstahl of andernleuts culture und history du komplex