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	DESTINATION GUIDES Macedonia Macedonia

DESTINATION GUIDES

Macedonia

You'll find everything from ancient medieval monasteries, Turkish bazaars, and a very modern capital, Skopje, a synthesis of old and new, of antiquity, modernity and a future rich with possibility. Macedonia has varied architecture, with a long history of great civilizations and turbulent events. Here one can find sleek modern hotels above cobblestone Ottoman streets, stately neoclassical homes right around the corner from grand old Yugoslav-era buildings, chic cafes, shopping malls and brightly coloured new offices, as well as the more humble brickwork of Byzantine churches.

Understanding the Geography

The Republic of Macedonia, often referred to as Macedonia, is a landlocked country on the Balkan Peninsula in southeaster Europe. It borders Serbia to the north, Albania to the west, and Greece to the south, and Bulgaria to the east.

The country is geographically clearly defined by a central valley formed by the Vardar River and framed along its borders by mountain ranges.

The Republic's terrain is mostly rugged, located between the Sara and Rhodope, which frame the valley of the Vardar River. Three large lakes — Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa and Dojran Lake — lie on the southern borders of the Republic, bisected by the frontiers with Albania and Greece. Ohrid is considered to be one of the oldest lakes and biotopes in the world. The region is seismically active and has been the site of destructive earthquakes in the past, most recently in 1963 when Skopje was heavily damaged by a major earthquake, killing over 1,000.

The Republic of Macedonia also has scenic mountains. They belong to two different ranges: Dinarska and Rodopska. The Dinarska range is the oldest with subsequent erosion; the Rodopska range is younger offering rugged, alpine sceneries. Ten highest mountains in the Republic of Macedonia.