2024

CHUTE D'EAU DE DUF

Natural site to discover

This beautiful waterfall (Дуфски Водопад/Dufski Vodopad or Duf Şelalesi in Turkish) is formed by the Rostuška river, which here makes a 23.5 m high jump through a narrow gorge, before filling a small basin and then joining the Radika. The water here flows powerfully, averaging 90 litres/second in winter. But the site is most beautiful in autumn or spring. The waterfall is located below Rostuša, about 30 minutes' walk from the village or 15 minutes from the road along a well-marked path.

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2024

MONT KRČIN

Natural site to discover

This mountain range (Крчин Планина/Krčin Planina, or Mali i Kërçinit in Albanian and Kırçin Dağı in Turkish) stretches for around 90 km2 between Albania and Northern Macedonia, partly within the Mavrovo National Park. Framed by the Dešat massif to the north and Lake Debar to the south, it culminates at Golem Krčin, 2,341 m above sea level, on the border between the two countries, just above Rostuša. A little further south are the peaks of Deli Senica (2,174 m), Rudina (2,238 m) and Crvena Ploča (2,107 m). The Krčin is the only habitat for a rare endemic flower, the Macedonian carnation(Dianthus macedonicus). The massif is best known for its hot, sulfurous springs, which are exploited at the Banište and Kosovrasti thermal baths near Debar. It is also an important gypsum reserve, with a quarry at Dono Kosovrasti, north of Lake Debar. Mount Krčin is also ideal for hiking. An easy 3.5 km trail leads from Rostuša to the important village of Skudrinje/Скудриње (Skudrinye in Turkish). Located just south of the Mavrovo National Park, it is home to around a thousand Turks (76%) and Macedonian Muslims (the Torbeš). Still departing from Rostuša, another more demanding route in the form of a loop (22 km) passes south of Velebrdo/Велебрдо, then through Bituše/Битуше, at 986 m altitude, before climbing to the Golem Krčin and skirting the border to the Deli Senica and Rudina peaks. The descent to Rostuša then passes by the pretty Duf waterfall.

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