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:: THE NATIONAL PARK ::...
 Mavrovo
encompasses the most beautiful parts of western Macedonia, the mountains Bistra,
Korab, South Šar Massifs, Dešat, the river Radika, Mavrovo Lake and the villages Mavrovi Anovi, Mavrovo, Leunovo, Nikiforovo,
Galičnik, Rostuše, Gari, Janče, Tresonče, Bituše and Lazaropole, with total area of 73,088 hectares.
In order to preserve the natural wealth of the region, it has been designated as
a National Park with the Law passed on March 3rd 1952, on account of "the historical and scientific
significance of the forests and wooded areas around the plain of Mavrovo, the
specific landscape and the natural beauty of the region, the diverse flora and
fauna and ethnological characteristics". In this area nature has created
numerous beauties of different character. The relief, the climatic conditions,
the hydrological and vegetative features, enhanced by human creativity,
all
contribute to making this region a particularly special place where the gifts of
the nature and the resourcefulness of humans can be admired.
 The
National Park Mavrovo encompasses numerous rivers, which present a real jewel in
the crown of beauty for the mountain landscape, with their wild rapids,
water-falls and incredible transparency: always full with clear and cold water,
the springs never get muddy. One of the most impressive parts of the park are
the striking gorges of the river Radika. The most dramatic is the Baric gorge.
The horizon in front of the observer completely closes leaving open only the
blue sky and the steep ascending rocks, in some places 1,500 m high. The valley
of the river Radika is almost completely covered with woods, except for its
lower part. The river is rich with river trout, which makes it attractive for
the sports fishermen. At the height of 2,300 m the river Ribnica emerges, a real
alpine river, with light-green, clear and shiny water. The river valley is
covered with woods and usually fresh in temperature, with tame, pleasant and
beautiful landscapes.
On the mountain slopes at a very great height, there are
17 glacial lakes, as a further ornament of the mountain landscapes. The biggest
lake within the national park is the artificial Mavrovo Lake, which with its
clear water, surrounded with forest, is one of the special attractions in this
part of Macedonia.
 Near the village Rostuše, there is one of the most
significant cultural monuments in the country - Monastery St. Jovan Bigorski.
The monumental iconostasis carving is considered to be the master-piece of the
carvers from this region. The masters, apart from motifs of the Bible,
represented some of the flora and fauna of the beautiful region from the Radika
gorge to Debar. Today, the monastery lives again actively as a religious center
with a brotherhood of monks. The monastery inns have been adjusted for modern
use and are rented as inns for the numerous visitors. The monastery services,
the baptisms, and weddings are part of the monks life in the monastery, and at
the same time they are a great attraction for the tourists.
 On the mountain slopes there are several villages with
original and specific architecture, Rostuše, Janče, Gari, Selce and many others.
In those villages there are still men and women wearing beautiful ornamental
traditional dress, and with interesting customs and folklore. Especially
interesting are the customs performed during the celebration of the Orthodox
holidays Vodici, Vasilica, Epiphany, Easter, and especially the wedding
ceremony. The famous "Galička Wedding", held every year in the village
Galičnik in July is one of the most attractive customs in Macedonia. The wedding
used to last for 4 days. Today, in an attractive natural scenery, beautiful
Galičnik architecture, characteristic of mountain villages, and accompanied by
the sound of the zurle and the tambour, they provide an unforgettable experience
for the tourists. The village Galičnik is located at the height of 1,200 m. In
this area sheep farming has always represented the basic means of subsistence.
In the mountain pastures, the shepherds passed their summers in the mountain
pastures, where the famous Galički yellow and white cheese were produced. Today
on the slopes of Bistra, there are still mountain pastures, the large flocks of
sheep standing out as white spots within the green meadows.
 The National Park Mavrovo is characteristic for its
extremely rich flora and fauna. Besides the presence of several floral elements
from different climatic regions, the most important feature of the
floral-geographical position of the park is the presence of several endemic and
relic forms. Of special interest is the presence of the elements from the
original tropical vegetation: the tertiary and glacial relics.
I-Ramondia serbica and Ramondia naturale
II- Pinus peude, Acer jeldrechii, Taxus baccata
III- Myrucaria belardii, Salix reticulata, Vaccinium
uliginosum
Especially rare species are the RHAMNUS PUMILA, Salix
cinerea, Corallorrhiza trifida and others.
In the region of the park, there are over 140 species of
birds and over 45 species of other vertebrates. Characteristic birds are:the
gray falcon, Falco peregrinus; the Falcon - Falcon Subbuteo L; the eagle, Aquila
Heliaca Sov; the large owl - Bubo bubo L.; the large cormorant - Phalacrocorax
carbo L; the white-headed vulture- Gyps fulvus Habl; the white stork - Ciconia
ciconia L; the partridge - Alecrtoris greaca Mais; and the wild pigeon -
Columbia livia L. The verterbrates are, among others:the wild goat - Rupicarpa
rupicarpa L., doe - Capreolus capreolus L, the bear Ursus arctos L., the lynx -
Lynx lynx L, the pine marten - Mustela martes L, the otter - Lutra lutra L., the
tortoise - Tustudo hermani Gm., the squirrel - Scirus vulgaris L. In the waters
of the river Radika and its mountain inflows live the Radika trout, and in
recent years, to Mavrovo lake the Ohrid plasica- (Albutnus albidus alborella)
has also been introduced, and seems to have adjusted well to the new waters. |
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