25 things you didn’t know about the Republic of Macedonia
This country is full with unexplored reaches
It’s so interesting to visit a country that has so much history, yet it is so new to the eyes of the modern world.
Short Bio
The Republic of Macedonia is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. Bordering East with Bulgaria, West with Albania, North with Kosovo and Serbia and South with Greece. 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.
Here are a few facts that you might not yet know about Macedonia, but that speaks part of the interesting and mysterious character of this country.
1 — There are (supposed) parts of the cross on which Jesus was crucified in the foundations of the monasteries of St. Bogodorica Prechista in Kichevo, and St. Jovan Bigorski and St. Georgij Pobedonosec in Debar.
2 — Macedonia is the only country that got independence from Yugoslavia without shedding a single drop of blood. It remained entirely at peace at the heat of Yugoslav wars in the early 1990s and got independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.
3 — It has more number of Mountains and Mountain peaks than any other country in the World.
Another interesting feature of this country is that it has more mountains and mountain peaks than any other country in the world. The country has as many as 34 mountain peaks, each with a height of more than 2,000 meters above the sea-level; with Mount Golem Korab being the highest at 2,753 meters above sea level. Most peaks in Macedonia have never been visited by people.
4— Ohrid Lake, the oldest and deepest lakes in Europe.
Ohrid Lake is the oldest and one of the deepest lakes in Europe (max depth 288m or 940ft). It is estimated 4 million years old and has 200 endemic species that haven’t been found at any other place in the world. It was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979.
5 — City Ohrid
This Macedonian city is on the shore of a lake of the same name and is one of only 28 sites around the world that qualify for Unesco’s lists of both cultural and natural sites. Ohrid has 365 churches and one of the most famous is Church of St. John at Kaneo.
More info: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/12129402/The-30-most-beautiful-towns-in-Europe.html
5 —Mother Theresa
Mother Theresa of Calcutta was born in Skopje, Macedonia. Even though she was born in Skopje, she was Albanian by ethnicity at the time of her birth in 1910. Today, you can see the museum house dedicated to her in the center of the capital city of Skopje.
Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do… but how much love we put in that action. — Mother Theresa
6 —Kokino is the fourth oldest astronomic observatory in the world
According to NASA, Kokino is the fourth oldest astronomic observatory in the world; with the oldest three being Abu Simbel, Egypt; Stonehenge, Great Britain; and Angkor Wat, Cambodia. Kokino is located approximately 30 km from the town of Kumanovo, and about 6 km from the Serbian border.
7 — Earthquakes
Skopje has suffered quite a few devastating earthquakes throughout history, the biggest ones in 518 and in 1963, leveling most of the city. In addition, the Austro-Hungarian General Piccolomini ordered the city burnt down in the 18th Century.
8 — Millennium Cross
The Millennium Cross is a 66 meter-high cross situated on the top of the Vodno Mountain in Skopje, and it is the biggest cross in the world. It was constructed to serve as a memorial of 2,000 years of Christianity in Macedonia and the world.
9 — The cave Pesna
Pesna Cave is situated 6 km from Makedonski Brod on the regional road to Samokov and it is one of the most attractive natural beauties of Macedonia. Unfortunately, not many people know about it, so it is still an undiscovered treasure and a completely unexploited tourist destination, although it was proclaimed a natural heritage of Macedonia.
This cave was described by New York Times as looking “exactly like Helm’s Deep from Lord of the Rings”.
10— Alexander the Great
He was king of the former Kingdom of Macedonia, was the first world-size conqueror who extended his empire across Greece and Persia to India and Egypt. During his time, the Kingdom of Macedonia was the most powerful state in the world; but after his death, the empire fell apart and it became the first Roman province in 146 B.C.
11 — The Cyrillic alphabet
Based on Cyrillic script, an official in Macedonia is based on the alphabet developed in the 9th century by two Macedonian (Region) brothers — St Cyril (thus — Cyrillic) and St Methodius. It was taught by their disciples at a monastery in Ohrid, from when it spread across the eastern Slavic world.
12 — Ohrid Literary School
The first Slavic school, Ohrid Literary School, was established in Macedonia by Saint Climent Ohridski.
13 — Macedonia is the first country in the world to have full access to wireless broadband.
14— Macedonian opium is the best in the world
Macedonian opium has 14 morphine units, compared with to Turkey’s 6, India’s 7, and China’s 8, all others have around 3.5 ME
15 — Macédoine salad
The diversified ethnicity in Macedonia is the inspiration for macédoine, a salad of mixed diced fruits or vegetables popular in France, Italy, Spain, and Latin America.
16 — Ajvar
Traditional food is called ajvar which is roasted red peppers and eggplant mashed together with garlic, oil, and salt. It is really good when served with feta cheese and bread.
17 — National Parks
Macedonia has four national parks (Galichica, Mavrovo, Pelister, and Jasen) comprising a total area of about 110,000 hectares.
18 —Salonica and Skopje railway station.
The first railway on the Balkans was the railway between Salonica and Skopje, built in the 19th century.
19 — Europe only Rubin mine is located in Macedonia
Many precious stones that you can see in the world magazines are from Prilep, the city of the only Rubin mine in Europe. People buy this stone for cheap prices because they are not aware of the price of the stone
20 —Alshar Mine
Alshar on Mount Kozuv is the one and only mine in the world that has talium and it’s potential mine with ecological clean energy.
People say that Alexander the Great army used this material to cover their shields. The sun reflection could blind the enemies for a second which would have been enough for the soldiers to do the finishing move. That was the only reason why Alexander the Great was fighting during the day in all his great fights.
From 2004, this mine is considered a monument of nature and part of the Emerald Network.
21— Via Ignatia
One of the most famous roads from Rome time, Via Egnatia passes through most of Macedonia
22 — Canyon Matka
It is 15 km to the south-west of the capital city Skopje and has enough activities to sate the hunger of every outdoor enthusiast: hiking, walks, canoeing, caving, climbing, history, and bird and butterfly spotting. The gorge contains medieval monasteries with superb frescoes and a lot of caves — some are accessible by boat from Lake Matka. If you are not in hiking mode one of the best things to do at the gorge is to take a boat trip to the water-filled Vrelo cavern with its incredible stalagmites and uncharted depths.
This cave was described by The Guardian as one of the Top 10 European canyons and gorges for walking and hiking trips
23- Cave Vrelo — World deepest underwater cave
Located on the right bank of the Treska River, the cave was listed as one of the top 77 natural sites in the world in the New7Wonders of Nature project.
Vrelo Cave has many stalactites including a large one in the middle of the cave is known as the “Pine Cone” due to its shape. There are two lakes at the end of the cave, with one larger than the other. The smaller lake is 8 meters (26.2 feet) at its longest length and 15 meters (49.2 feet) in depth at its deepest point. The larger lake is 35 meters (114.8 feet) at its longest length and 18 meters (59 feet) at its deepest point. Though the exact depth of the cave is unknown, some speculate that it could be the deepest underwater cave in the world.
24 — Skopje has the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside of Istanbul
The Old Bazaar (Macedonian: Стара Чаршија, Stara Čaršija from the Turkish: Çarşı meaning marketplace, Albanian: Çarshia e Vjetër) in Skopje is the largest bazaar in the Balkans outside Istanbul. It is situated on the eastern bank of the Vardar River, stretching from the Stone Bridge to the Bit-Pazar and from the Skopje Fortress to the Serava river.
25 — Macedonian wine
The country itself is full of vineyards and quality wine that is sold to the global market. One of the most famous regions is the city Kavadarci, where people make the best vines in the country.
At the beginning of September, there is a celebration called Tikveshki Grozdober (Macedonian: Тиквешкиот гроздобер).
THANK YOU for reading.
If you enjoyed this and think others will too, will you please press the green “Recommend” heart or share with a friend?
