Macedonia is an ancient biblical country, geographically situated in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula.
Since Balkan Peninsula is named after a mountain, located in its centre, Mt. Stara Planina ("Old Mountain"), and the fact that Macedonia covers its central regions, it seems obvious enough that Macedonia must be a mountainous country. Indeed, its geographical location is favorable: stretched along the Vardar River, Macedonia controls the shortest traffic linking central Europe to the southeastern periphery of the continent, or for trade to the Middle East.
High percentage of the Republic of Macedonia is mountainous. It's a landlocked country that is geographically defined by a central valley formed by the Vardar river and framed along its borders by mountain ranges. The Republic's territory is mostly rugged, located between Šara and Osogovo mountains, which frame the valley of the Vardar river.
The Republic of Macedonia also has scenic mountains. The mountain belong to two different ranges: Dinarska and Rodopska. 'The Dinarska' range is the oldest with subsequent erosion; the Rodopska range is younger offering rugged, alpine scenery. The scenery in Macedonia offers rocky mountains and green, rolling hills covered with conifer forests and lined with countless freshwater streams and rivers.
The total territory of Republic of Macedonia comes to 25,713 sq. km, of which 25,236 sq. km are land, while 477 sq. km are water surface. The lowest point is Vardar River (44 m) near Gevgelija, and the highest point is Golem Korab peak (2,764 m) in the north-western part of the country.
The macro relief of this small country was formed in a tectonic process into mountains and valleys.
In the east, the mountains of Plackovica, Malesevo, Ograzden, Belasica, and Kozuf are located as a part of the Rhodope range, while in the west, the Sar-Pindus group of mountains.
Macedonia borders with several countries. Namely, to the north it borders with Serbia, northwest with Kosovo, to the east with Bulgaria, to the south with Greece, to the west with Albania.
Macedonia is distinguished by particularly characteristic and touristic natural factors which are reflected in terms of the heterogeneous mosaic of the relief, which like on a chess board, is expresses through divers geomorphologic forms consisting of mountains, valleys, fields, ravines and gorges.
9,779 sq mi
Macedonia has a transitional climate from Mediterranean to continental. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are moderately cold. Average annual precipitation varies from 1,700 mm (66.9 in) in the western mountainous area to 500 mm (19.7 in) in the eastern area. There are three main climatic zones in the country: temperate Mediterranean, mountainous and mildly Continental.
Temperature: Average 11.5°C, at summer 22.2°C, Winter 0.3°C