Prespa Lake

Macedonia owns most of Lake Prespa (almost 200 km2), which is why the locals consider it their second pearl (the first and most important pearl of this country, of course, Lake Ohrid). At the same time, a considerable part of the reservoir is also located on the territory of Greece and Albania: a little more than 40 km2 and almost 35 km2, respectively.

There are only two islands above the surface of Prespa. Golem Grad (which translates as "big fortress" or "big city") is located in Macedonia, and a smaller island called Mal Grad is located in Albania. Both islands are currently uninhabited, although remnants of ancient buildings have been preserved there.

The length is about 34 km.
The width is 10 km.
The area is 273 km2.
The maximum depth is 54 m.
The height above sea level is 853 m.

It actually consists of two lakes: Bolshaya Prespa and Malaya Prespa, located just south of it, which are connected to each other by an artificially dug channel.

On the east side, the lake is framed by a mountain range, while in the west, Prespa is bordered by Lake Ohrid, the largest body of water in Macedonia. Lake Prespa is fed by numerous rivers and streams, and its shores are indented by gorges and ravines; due to the proximity of the mountains, it seems to many to be a mountain lake. But at the same time, the lake is really located at an altitude of more than 800 meters above sea level.

Prespa is located ten kilometers from Ohrid and one and a half hundred meters above it. For this reason, the waters of the first lake, penetrating through the karst tunnels, constantly feed the second. But the age of both lakes is about the same: about five million years ago they appeared in these places and since then they have been pleasing the eye with their amazing beauty. It helps to keep the ecosystem of reservoirs unchanged both by the fact that Ohridskoe is included in the UNESCO List, and by the fact that an agreement has been concluded between the three countries to which Prespa belongs, according to which the lake has the status of a national heritage and a protected natural site.

The lake, which is extremely rich in fish, is also a habitat for many rare plants and animals, the protection of which is of great importance in the national park. For example, Lake Prespa and its surroundings are known as a nesting and wintering place for pelicans.

Prespa Lake is located in the middle of a national park with an area of 2,000 square kilometers and is located on the territory of all three states adjacent to the lake. The rare and largely untouched flora and fauna of the reservoir and its surroundings have been taken under protection at the state level. Moreover, these territories have been declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site.

But this does not prevent the development of tourism around Lake Prespa, however, to a limited extent. For example, water sports are limited only to diving and sailing. The average water temperatures in Malaya Prespa in the range of 16-21 degrees make it a warm body of water in which it is pleasant to swim.

The natural beauty and the recently created infrastructure have turned Prespa into one of the few tourist centers in Macedonia, which so far remains practically undeveloped by world tourism.

The richness of flora and fauna of Lake Prespa is due to its preserved vast humid territories. However, recently, especially on the Albanian side of the lake, they are in acute danger of drying out due to insufficient precipitation and water intake for agriculture.

Tourists are allowed to explore the unique landscapes here, but they are instructed to travel strictly along designated routes. While hiking around the lake, you can also explore the ancient settlement, where sometimes you can even accidentally find objects of very ancient origin. Fossils such as shells, bird bones or, for example, shark teeth, indicate that Lake Prespa in prehistoric times was part of the salty seas. In the vicinity of the lake, you can visit several museums where similar finds are on display.

The way to Prespa Lake always starts in Ohrid, a city on the shores of Lake Ohrid, which is served by planes directly from Moscow. From Ohrid, you can drive either along highway 501 or skirting the Galicica National Park. The first road is shorter (only about 40 km), but it is sometimes closed, and the second is longer (almost 70 km), but it is always open.