Lake Ohrid

North Macedonia, North Macedonia

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Lake Ohrid sits on the border between southwestern North Macedonia and eastern Albania, with most of its shoreline and surface area lying within North Macedonia. It is one of Europe’s oldest and deepest lakes, reaching about 288 meters at its maximum depth and covering roughly 350–390 square kilometers, making it the deepest lake in the Balkans. The lake is famous for its clear waters, unique ecosystem, and exceptional biodiversity, hosting over 200 species found nowhere else on Earth, including several endemic fish and invertebrates. Much of North Macedonia’s part of the lake and the surrounding cultural area around the town of Ohrid are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, while the lake as a whole also has Ramsar and biosphere‑reserve status, reflecting its global environmental importance and long human history along its shores.