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The
Matka canyon is located in the lower course of river Treska, 15km southwest of
Skopje.
With it's geological, geomorphologic and hydrological characteristics, and the
flora and fauna, it is an exceptional object of nature. The main phenomenon of
this natural treasure is the canyon, a distinguished geomorphologic entity
with well preserved natural and geographic characteristics in which rare and
endemic species find their escape. This outstanding work of nature, with sides
1000m high and step notches of over 250m, was created by vertical erosions of
the Treska river during the long geological history.
The area of the canyon is
characteristic by low mountains. The Osoj hill is the northwest boundary, Suva
Gora mountain and Vodno occupy the southeast and the east of the canyon. The
north frontier is an entrance to the Skopje valley, following the course of the
villages of Matka, Šiševo, Glumovo and Saraj.
 Geographically, the ground consists
of thick layers of over one billion years old carbonate rocks and somewhat
younger slate carbonate, rocky masses.
The caves and abysses as special
categories of late geographic forms are mainly concentrated on the right side of
the canyon, under the area Visoki Rid (High Hill) on 885m attitude. There are
about ten of them, but most known are: Vrelo, Krstalno and Ubava.
The over ground carts forms are
located in the wider area of Rudine represented by crevices, funnel-shaped
depressions, hollows and small rocks-as special micro forms on the surface carts
relief.
In the Matka canyon, on the left
side of the valley high in the rocks, there is a very interesting phenomenon of
a natural bridge, created by the erosive processes in the carbonate rocks.
 The most interesting object is the
Treska river with the Matka accumulation, offering wide opportunities for
development of the tourism and recreational activities. The underground spring Koritište with water delivery of 2m per second should be also mentioned. Besides
its enormous scientific phenomenon of the carst hydrography, it s also very
important as a future water supply resource for the city of Skopje.
The
Matka canyon is also a true oasis with various and well preserved autochthonous
fauna. A great number of relic and endemic species, as well as typical examples
of newly discovered animal species can be found there. The most fascinating is
the exclusively great number of various kinds of butterfly species, 84 of which
can be found there and nowhere else on the Balkans.
 A part its natural values, the
Matka canyon with its immediate surroundings, is valuable treasury of our
cultural heritage, presenting to us antiquities from the different time
periods. Remains of many ancient and medieval settlements and fortresses and a
great number of well preserved medieval churches and monasteries are discovered.
Many of this discoveries are of precious value. Most of them are: the monastery
of St. Andrea from the 14th century, the church St. Nikola Šiševski
from the 13th-14th century and the medieval town of Matka
with the church St. Nedela from the 14th century and St. Bogorodica
from the 14th century. |
