DOJRAN LAKE (ДОJРАНСКО ΔΟΪΡΆΝΗ - ΔΟΪΡΆΝΗ ДОJРАНСКО)

This 43 ^km2 lake (Дојранско Езеро/Dojransko Ezero, Λίμνη Δοϊράνη/Limani Doïrani) is shared between Northern Macedonia (27 ^km2) and Greece. Oval in shape, it extends 8.9 km in length from north to south and 7.1 km in maximum width. Much smaller than the Ohrid and Prespa lakes, it is nonetheless the third-largest natural lake in Northern Macedonia. Almost dried out by human error in 1988, Lake Dojran has now been restored to its original level, with an average depth of 10m. It is protected due to the presence of numerous birds, including the occasional rare curly pelican. To the east and south, the banks on the Greek side are mostly marshland. On the Macedonian side, to the west and north, you'll find the village of Dojran and several stretches of sand on the west coast, as well as Mrdaja beach to the south and Nikolić beach to the north. Swimming, however, is complicated by the proliferation of invasive plants. As for fishing, it is now done with nets or lines and not, as in the past, with the forced complicity of aquatic birds. This technique, known as piliktanik, has made the lake famous. For centuries, great crested grebes and pygmy cormorants were used as "flappers" to direct fish into reed traps and prevent them from escaping. Despite this, the large white flat-bottomed boats and stilt huts are still an integral part of the landscape, with the beautiful Bélès massif dominating to the north.