Mavrovo

(Macedonian: Маврово)

Mavrovo is a region in the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia. It is home to Mavrovo National Park and a winter sports center. Some of the villages and smaller hamlets include: Mavrovo, Nikiforovo, Leunovo, and Mavrovi Anovi. This micro region is named Mavrovo because most of the people live in the village of Mavrovo and the more famous families were also from Mavrovo. A view from the southwestern end of Lake Mavrovo.

The exquisite location,(Bistra mountain and the Mavrovo Reservoir) helped this region to grow into a big tourist center throughout the whole year. Mavrovo is the most popular ski center in Macedonia.

The ski center named Zare Lazareski has two double lift chairs, one single lift chair with over 1100 person capacity per hour, several ski lifts with synchronized connection and over 5000 person capacity per hour. The ski center was renovated recently, so the capacity of the ski lifts and the ski chairs is increased. The ski trails start at 1960m and end at 1250m above sea level.

The Mavrovo lake lies at an altitude of 1220m. and its foundation began in 1953. It is 12 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide and covers an area of 13,3 square kilometers. The coast is 24 kilometers long. The deepest measured spot of the lake is 48 meters deep. There is a lot of fish such as: trout, minnows etc... Lots of fishermen come to fish at Mavrovo lake during the weekend.

• Number of inhabitants: 8.874
• Area: 663.19 sq. km
• Geographic position: 41° 39' 25 N; 20° 44' 4 E
• Climate: Continental
• Average temperature: around 10oC yearly averages
• Time zone: Central European Time (GMT +1)
• Postal Code: 1230
• Local area code: 042

The park was established in 1949 with a special bill, calling for the "protection of the exceptional natural beauty and the scientifically and historically important forest around Mavrovo valley". This law adopted by the National Assembly of Macedonia was significantly revised in 1952 enforcing a much stricter conservation regime. The park was divided into three zones with different levels of protection. Most importantly, the territory of the park was increased from 11750 hectares in 1949, to 73088 hectares in 1952. Today Mavrovo National Park is among the region's largest reserves if this kind.