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About Macedonia |
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THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
CRADLE OF CULTURE, LAND OF NATURE
 The Republic of Macedonia is a small country situated in the southern part of Balkan Peninsula. It's a natural bridge between east and west, north and south.
The majority of the population is the Macedonians, while the most numerous among the minorities are the Albanians, Turks and Serbs.
The Republic of Macedonia abounds in the natural beauties and rarities. Many have named it "The Pearl of the Balkans". The numerous mountains, forests, rivers and lakes present a great tourist attraction.
The country is reach in water resources. That is why it is often called "The Land of Lakes" because of the many tectonic, glacial and artifice lakes. There are about fifty large and small lakes, the most significant ones: the lakes of Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran. The rivers  form three basins, the largest one - the Vardar River.
The high mountains present its impressive, spectacular landscapes. Because of the great variety of plant and animal species, some areas in the mountains have been proclaimed national parks: Mavrovo, Pelister and Galitchica.
There are various climatic zones in the country, temperately Mediterranean in the south (with warm summers and mild winters), and moderately continental in the north with more marked seasonal extremes.
The main administrative centre of the country is Skopje, with a  population of more than 800.000 inhabitants. It's a place where many roads and civilizations have met and mingled. Other larger towns are: Bitola, Prilep, Kumanovo, Tetovo, Ohrid.
tuated on the shore of Lake Ohrid with its natural beauties, historical and cultural heritage enjoys the protection of UNESCO. Ohrid abounds with a large number of historical and cultural monuments,   lovely beaches, and accommodation facilities.
The second "pearl" of Lake Ohrid, the town of Struga is renowned for its old architecture, the river black Drim, its fine beaches, excellent hotels and campsites.
The basin of Lake Prespa is another popular tourist destination with its wild beauty. The lake offers peace in several various  accommodation facilities on Oteshevo and Pretor tourist centers.
Lake Dojran, the smallest of the tectonic lakes, due to its mild climate and warm water is considered to have medicinal qualities. There are several hotels and campsites on the shore of this lake, too.
The position of the country and its configuration, climate and  hydrograph provide favourable conditions for the development of tourism. The most popular tourist destinations are Lake Ohrid. Lake Prespa and Lake Dojran where 80% of total accommodation capacities are located and the biggest
part of the tourism turnover and revenues derived.
For winter tourism are several well-known winter sports centers: Popova Shapka, Mavrovo, Krushevo, Pelister. They provide all the  necessary facilities for sports and recreation, such as comfortable resorts and hotels, cable cars and ski lifts.
There are more than 60 thermal springs tapped at several spas: Katlanovo Spa, Kosovrasti Spa, Bansko, Negorci, Kezovica Spa. They offer facilities for treatment, rehabilitation and recreation.
Nowadays, the Republic of Macedonia is a veritable treasury of cultural heritage. The country treasures a large number of cultural  and historical monuments: churches, monasteries, icons, archaeological sites, mosques, old books and other artefacts. The first Slavic alphabet and literature also have their roots here.
Many internationally recognized events are held in the country: Ohrid Summer Festival, Struga Poetry Evenings, Balkan Festival of Folk Songs and dances, Galitchnik Wedding.
 National folklore and traditional arts and crafts are still cherished. The finely embroidered national costumes, the numerous old crafts shops have played an important part in preserving the tradition.
Summer and winter tourism: As a continental country with influence of the Mediterranean climate, the Republic of Macedonia has great potentials for the development of both summer and winter tourism.
Eco-tourism: The unpolluted air, soil and water are a great precondition for Eco tourism, which is on the top of the list of offers  of the world's most popular tour operators.
Culture tourism: with over 1,000 churches and monasteries, more then 4,200 archaeological sites, Macedonia intends to intends to be on the very top of the list for cultural tourism in Europe be among the leaders in cultural tourism in Europe.
From tourist aspect, we can divide the Republic of Macedonia into five main regions, each with its own attributes and different tourist potentials.
Northwest Macedonia
Winter tourism has potential especially in northwest part of Macedonia where there are plenty of mountains and mountain peaks  that are over 2,000 meters above sea level. The mountains are adequate for the development of winter tourism and sports. They can also be used as recreation centres in summer time.
The most famous ski-centres are Popova Sapka (Sar Planina) and Mavrovo National Park (Bistra) with attractive ski slopes, and places for hiking, walking and ecological tours. These mountains are characterized with an abundance of flowers, forest and rich vegetation, as well as cold and unpolluted water. The mountain lakes, spacious pastures with  lush green grass, wild fruits and flocks of sheep make these mountains a holiday destination for all four seasons.
Northeast Macedonia
This part of Macedonia is rich with cultural and historical sites and is distinguished by the high concentration of oxygen in the air (eco tourism). This part is mostly mountainous, but only few  of the mountain peaks are higher than 2,000 meters. The centre of the tourism in this region is the city of Berovo. The city of Berovo is part of the World Bank project on cultural tourism.
Southwest Macedonia
Southwest Macedonia is a region famous for its lake tourism. The biggest  concentration of tourist facilities and tourism-developed conditions are in this region of the country (only in Ohrid the total bed capacity is 30,732). Lake Ohrid is the one that marks the region, bearing the title as one of the most beautiful tectonic lakes in the world. The city of Ohrid (protected by UNESCO) is undoubtedly one of the most attractive tourist places in the Republic of Macedonia. The second lake - Prespa Lake has got many endless and sandy beaches, especially on its northern side. This region is less densely populated.
In southwest Macedonia the Baba Mountain is also situated. Ever since 1948 one part of the mountain was protected and national park "Pelister" was founded (12,500 hectares and altitude between 700m and 2601m). From the natural tourism values the most beautiful one is mountain peak Pelister (2601m). The biggest attractions of the park are: the endemic  five-needle pin named Molika, the Large and Small glacier lake of Pelister, the rare specie of the European lynx, bearded eagle and others. It should be stressed that 88 kinds of tree - plants as well as 62 kinds of animals can be found in this national park.
Southeast Macedonia
Southeast Macedonia is a region with huge potential for Spa tourism development. Several Spa resorts are situated in this region such as Kezovica, Bansko and Negorci Spa. Here can be found the natural lake Dojran whose waters are healing due to the growing endemic algae.
 Central Macedonia
This region has an excellent geographic position and has huge opportunities for development of the transit and winter tourism. The main tourist centre is city of Krushevo which also has a great historical means for the Macedonian nation.
History
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Dedicated to the most charismatic and heroic king of all times.
Introduction.
Alexandros III Philippou Makedonon (Alexander the Great, Alexander III of Macedon) (356-323 B.C.), king of Macedonia, born in late July 356 BC in Pella, Macedonia, one of the greatest military genius in history. He conquered much of what was then the civilized world, governed by his divine ambition of the world conquest and creation of universal world
Arrian describes Alexander: the strong, monarchy. handsome commander with one eye dark as a night and one blue as a sky, always leading his army on his faithful hors Bucephalo, accompanied by the best military formation of the time, the Macedonian Phalanx which was armed with sarisses, the fearful five and half meter long spears. He was the first great conqueror which has reached, Greece, Egypt , Asia Minor, and Asia till the river Ind in India. He was famous for having created ethnic syncretism between the Macedonians and the conquered populations, especially the aggressive Persians. Alexander brought Greek ideas, culture and mentality to the conquered countries and assured expansion and domination of the Hellenistic Culture which together with the Roman Civilization and Christianity presents the fundaments of what is now called Western Civilization.( Read more about Alexander the Great)
The Republic of Macedonia occupies the  western half of the ancient Kingdom of Macedonia. Historic Macedonia was defeated by Rome and became a Roman province in 148 B.C. After the Roman Empire was divided in A.D. 395, Macedonia was intermittently ruled by the Byzantine Empire until Turkey took possession of the land in 1371. The Ottoman Turks dominated Macedonia for the next five centuries, until 1913. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there was a constant struggle by the Balkan powers to possess Macedonia for its economic wealth and its strategic military corridors. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878, ending the  Russo-Turkish War, gave the largest part of Macedonia to Bulgaria. Bulgaria lost much of its Macedonian territory when it was defeated by the Greeks and Serbs in the Second Balkan War of 1913. Most of Macedonia went to Serbia and the remainder was divided between Greece and Bulgaria.
In 1918, Serbia, which included much of Macedonia, joined in union with Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro to form the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which was renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. Bulgaria  joined the Axis powers in World War II and occupied parts of Yugoslavia, including Macedonia, in 1941. During the occupation of their country, Macedonian resistance fighters fought a guerrilla war against the invading troops. The Yugoslavian federation was re-established after the defeat of Germany in 1945, and in 1946, the government removed the Vardar territory of Macedonia from Serbian control and made it an autonomous Yugoslavian republic. Later, when President Tito recognized the Macedonian people, as a separate nation, Macedonia's distinct culture and language were able to flourish, no longer suppressed by outside  rule.
On Sept. 8, 1991, Macedonia declared its independence from Yugoslavia and asked for recognition from the European Union nations. It became a member of the UN in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) because Greece vociferously protested Macedonia's right to the name, which is also the name of a large northern province of Greece. To Greece, the use of the name implies Macedonia's interest in territorial expansion into the Greek province. Greece has imposed  two trade embargoes against the country as a result.
Tensions between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians continued to rise during the Kosovo crisis, during which more than 140,000 refugees streamed into the country from neighbouring Kosovo. Most of the refugees returned to Kosovo in 2000.
The long-simmering resentment of Macedonia's ethnic Albanians erupted into violence in March 2001, prompting the government to send troops into the heavily Albanian western section of the country. The rebels sought greater autonomy within Macedonia. In Aug. 2001, after six months of fighting, the rebels and the Macedonian government signed a peace agreement that allowed a British-led NATO force to enter the country and disarm the guerrillas. In Nov. 2001, Macedonia's parliament agreed to constitutional amendments giving broader rights to its Albanian minority. Albanian became one  of the country's two official languages.
In Sept. 2002 elections, a center-left coalition ousted the governing coalition, which had been embroiled in previous years' guerrilla insurgency. Branko Crvenkovski of the Together for Macedonia coalition became the new prime minister. In Feb. 2004, President Boris Trajkovski was killed in a plane crash. Prime Minister Crvenkovski was then elected president; three prime ministers have served under him. In August 2004, parliament approved legislation  redrawing internal borders and giving ethnic Albanians more local autonomy in regions where Albanians predominate.
Government
Parliamentary democracy.
GENERAL INFORMATION
· Area: 25.713 km2
·  Population: 1.936.877
· Capital: Skopje
· Language: Macedonian
· Alphabet: Cyrillic
· Religions: Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic
· Political structure: State with parliamentary democracy
· Localities under UNESCO protection: the town of Ohrid and Lake Ohrid
· Currency: Denar (Mden) = 100 deni
 · Time: GMT + 1
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