The Region of Prespa

    Prespa is a historical and geographical region of Macedonia, now divided between the Republic of Macedonia, Greece and Albania. In a geographical sense the term Prespa represents a large valley in whose center are located two Prespa lakes - Big and Small. From the north, the valley is surrounded by the Bigla Mountain, by Galichica from the west, by Suva Gora from south and Baba Mountain on the east. The northern side of the valley lies in Republic of Macedonia and is called Upper Prespa which covers most of the territory of the municipality of Resen. The Southern - Lower Prespa is divided on Small Prespa, in whose territory is the Albanian municipality Pustec and Big Prespa, in whose territory lies Greek Prespa Municipality and the southern part of the municipality of Resen.

Prespa valley is surrounded from all sides by high mountains: the eastern is the mountain Baba with it's highest peak Pelister (2601 m), the northern is Bigla (1933 m), western is Galichica (2255), and the southern Gorbech (1750). Unnaturally the valley itself is divided between three countries from which most belonged to the Republic of Macedonia and the other parts are in Greece and Albania. In the valley there are two lakes: Big and Small Prespa lake. In the waters of the Great Prespa Lake is the triangle of Macedonian, Greek and Albanian border.
Big Prespa Lake covers an area of 284 km2 with an elevation of 853 m and the greatest depth of 54 m, is among the cleanest lakes in the world. 65% of the lake surface belongs to the Republic of Macedonia, 18% to the Republic of Albania and 17% to Greece. There are two islands in the Big Prespa Lake: Golem Grad Island(St. Peter) with an area of 1 km2, located on the triangle border belonging to the Republic of Macedonia and also the only island in the state, is overgrown with juniper forest(juniperus foeditissima) several centuries old, rich with archeological sites and is protected by law as a natural rarity.
The waters of Lake Prespa flow under the mountain of Galichica to the lake of Ohrid. The lake is rich in fish, particularly the Prespa's carp and the "belvica" or "nivichka" fish as well as many others.
Prespa valley is located between the two national parks Pelister and Galichica. This valley actually represents part of both of the national parks.

The Island "Golem Grad"

   Golem Grad: The only real desert island in Macedonia - which spreads like a big shell in the middle stretches of Prespa Lake. It is located off the western coast of Prespa Lake near the triangle of the Macedonian, Albanian and Greek border. It covers an area of 21.9 ha, is 800 meters long and 400 meters wide. The banks are steep cliffs 4-6 m tall and with difficult access.

Golem Grad Island is the habitat of 160 species of fern and family plants, 20 species of Mediterranean plants and the south european flora element is represented with 80 species. Many plants have concealed themselves on this island, a lot of them being indeed very rare, and meanwhile, for others, Golem Grad is the only residence. As for fauna, Big City is rich in various kinds of invertebrates, reptiles, birds and rabbits. Grand Island City has a zoological significance, since it or its immediate surroundings are nesting or living places for many bird species including some rare and endangered species such as white heron, pelicans, great cormorant and the great coastline swallow. The island has characteristic and impressive flora represented by the ancient forests of wild juniper. Also interesting is the presence of the nettle Celtis glabra which is found only on the mountain Caucaus on this small island. Golem Grad is home to ducks, which make their nests among the rocks on the shore, swallows, pelicans and other bird species. The fact that on an area of only 20 hectares were able to survive so many different and rare kinds of flora and fauna is impressive.

During the summer sunny days, the coastline becomes a real beach coast for a number of lake-aquatic white-ear snakes which slithering through the rocks sunbathe on the hot sand. There are in all sizes and with different patterns. This island is truly for them paradise. They have food in abundance, and almost no serious enemies on the island. While enjoying the peaceful lake and the sound of insects, not wondering if you disrupt the silence of hundreds of flocks of cormorants.

National park - "Galicica"

Territory.

 Galichica National Park covers an area of 25,000 ha. The lowest point is the level of Lake Ohrid (695 meters above sea level) and the level of Lake Prespa (850 meters above sea level) and highest peak Magaro (2255 м.н.в). The southern border is also the state border with the Republic of Albania and the western border is the shore of Lake Ohrid. The northern point connects the two lakes by several striking elevations, starting at St. Petka Monastery near the village Velgoshti and go straight to the top Vishesla. From there over Petrinsko Pole, the locality East to the peak of Samar where it descends to the locality of Sir Han on the shore of the Prespa Lake. The Eastern border follows the shore of Lake Prespa to the state's border with the Republic of Albania including the island "Golem Grad".
Lynx (lynx martinoi) or Balkan lynx is an indigenous species which in Macedonia is represented by about 30-35 individuals. Because of this small number and the diverse threats to which the lynx population is exposed(mostly results from human activities), from July 2006, the Macedonian Ecological Society (MES) began conducting a project to protect the population of the Balkan lynx in Macedonia with the title "Programme for the Balkan lynx recovery.

Historycal building: "Ahmed Niyazi bey's Saraj" - Resen

 The former building of the Ahmed Saraj Niyazi-Bey in Resen, where now are the House of Culture "Dragi Tozija", as well as the permanent exhibition of works by the Macedonian artist Keraca Visulcheva and gallery of works by the Resen's ceramic colony, was among the most representative examples of objects built in neoclassical style in Macedonia. As objects of high aesthetic and functional values, it's considered as one of the more important examples of architecture from the beginning of the 20th century, in which are present elements from the European historical styles in architecture.

With its size and congruent symmetry proportions, this building stands out from anything previously built in Resen, but also in the time when it was built, from 1905 to 1909. Parts of the craft work of the building were performed later. Its roof was restored in 1982, and later in 2005 it was restored again with funds from the World Bank. This fascinating object is 25 meters high, with an area of 4800 square meters indoors, and for the interior treatment were used refined and processed high quality materials.
For its construction is tied very interesting story.The construction contractor, Niyazi Ahmed-beg, as a student of military academy in Istanbul and probably a member of the young turk movement, was sent in Resen, where he later received a postcard with the Versailles Palace by a friend from Paris. The rich bey from Resen decided to build a beutiful object where he planned to live, but was unfortunately was killed in 1912 in Durres, before the castle was fully completed.

The skilfulness of the local band-builders is also considered as an outstanding fact, who have managed to complete the building owith large size and rich decoration. That explains to the researchers of the architectural features and value of the Sarai about the perfect knowledge of the architecture craft.