LAKE OF OHRID

This natural lake (Liqeni i Ohrit, Охридско Езеро/Ohridsko Ezero), also known as "Lake Pogradec" in Albanian (Liqeni i Pogradecit), stretches over 358 ^km2 between Northern Macedonia and Albania (110 ^km2). Boasting superb landscapes, it is framed by two massifs, notably Mount Galičica (2,254 m altitude) to the east. Listed in its entirety as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2019, Lake Ohrid has the distinction of being the deepest lake in the Balkans (288 m) and one of the oldest in the world, along with lakes Titicaca (Bolivia and Peru) and Baikal (Russia). The main places to visit are in the Macedonian part of the lake, classified by Unesco in 1979. Here you'll find the town of Ohrid (population 42,000), which was the first center of Slavic Christianization, beginning in 886 with St. Clement of Ohrid. Its well-preserved town center is home to a dozen outstanding medieval Orthodox churches, making Ohrid the most popular tourist destination in the neighbouring country. The Macedonian shores are also home to the town of Struga (16,000 inhabitants, mostly Albanian), numerous churches and the prestigious St. Naum monastery (8 km northeast of Pogradec). The Albanian part, on the other hand, is of little interest, apart from its landscapes and the village of Lin.

Beaches and rare species. Since 2021, Lake Ohrid has also been included in the Ramsar Convention for Wetlands of International Importance. The lake constitutes a unique ecosystem. It is fed by the waters of Lake Prespa, which flow under the Galičica massif. In turn, Lake Ohrid gives rise to the Black Drin at Struga, then enters Albania south of Peshkopi, before joining the White Drin at Kukës to form the Drin, Albania's longest river, which joins the Adriatic south of Shkodra. The lake is a rich nature reserve with large colonies of birds, 17 endemic species of fish, including the Ohrid trout, as well as crabs, sponges and a particularly rare gastropod, the Goeca ohridana. The 87 km of coastline are ideal for swimming, especially on the "Macedonian Riviera" to the east. On the Albanian side, there are small beaches at Lin and an 8 km-long stretch of sand between Pogradec and the village of Tushemisht. Punctuated by bunkers and small boats, the latter runs alongside the Drilon park, with several hotels and restaurants nearby. The lake's water is cool, but usually reaches 24°C at the surface in summer near the shore.