North Macedonia

North Macedonia is a landlocked country in Southeastern Europe, located in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. It borders Kosovo and Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south, and Albania to the west. Its capital and largest city is Skopje, which also serves as the country’s political, economic, and cultural centre. Because of its position in the Balkans, North Macedonia has historically been a crossroads of different empires, cultures, and trade routes.

Geographically, North Macedonia is a mountainous country with diverse terrain despite its relatively small size. It is dominated by a series of mountain ranges, including the Šar Mountains in the northwest and the Osogovo-Belasica range in the east. Between these mountains lie fertile valleys and basins, such as the Vardar River Valley, which forms the country’s main north–south corridor and is crucial for transport, agriculture, and settlement. The highest peak is Mount Korab, reaching 2,764 metres on the border with Albania. North Macedonia also contains several large lakes, including Lake Ohrid, Lake Prespa, and Lake Dojran, which are important for biodiversity, tourism, and freshwater resources. The climate varies from continental in the interior to Mediterranean influences in the south, producing hot summers and cold winters.

North Macedonia has a long and complex history shaped by its strategic Balkan location. In antiquity, the region was part of the ancient kingdom of Paionia and later came under the rule of the Kingdom of Macedon, famously associated with Alexander the Great. It was subsequently incorporated into the Roman and later Byzantine Empires. During the medieval period, the region changed hands between Bulgarian and Serbian empires before coming under Ottoman rule in the 14th century, which lasted for nearly five centuries.

After the decline of the Ottoman Empire, the region became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) following the Balkan Wars and World War I. After World War II, it became one of the constituent republics of socialist Yugoslavia, known as the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. In 1991, it peacefully declared independence as the Republic of Macedonia. Due to a long-standing naming dispute with Greece, it was officially renamed North Macedonia in 2019 following the Prespa Agreement. Today, it is a parliamentary republic and a candidate for European Union membership and NATO member since 2020.

Agriculture plays an important role in North Macedonia’s economy, especially in rural areas and fertile valleys. The country produces a variety of crops, including tobacco (historically one of its most important exports), grapes, wheat, barley, maize, rice, sunflowers, and vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes. Fruit production includes apples, plums, cherries, and peaches. Viticulture is particularly significant, with North Macedonia producing well-regarded wines in regions such as Tikveš. Livestock farming includes sheep, cattle, pigs, and poultry, with sheep farming especially common in mountainous regions.

Fishery is limited due to North Macedonia being landlocked, but freshwater fishing is important in its lakes and rivers. Lake Ohrid is especially notable for its endemic species, including the famous Ohrid trout, which is carefully protected. Other species such as carp, perch, and eel are found in lakes and reservoirs. Aquaculture has developed in some areas, but fisheries remain a small part of the economy and are closely managed to preserve fragile aquatic ecosystems.

Forestry is an important natural resource sector, with forests covering a significant portion of the country, particularly in mountainous regions. The forests are composed mainly of oak, beech, pine, and fir. They provide timber, fuelwood, and non-timber forest products, while also playing a crucial role in preventing soil erosion, regulating water systems, and supporting biodiversity. Wildlife includes deer, wild boar, wolves, lynx, and a variety of bird species. Sustainable forest management is important, especially in light of pressures from logging, wildfires, and climate change.

Overall, North Macedonia is a geographically diverse Balkan country where mountains, valleys, and lakes strongly influence both settlement and economic activity. Its history reflects centuries of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, and Yugoslav influence, while modern development is shaped by agriculture, forestry, limited fisheries, and ongoing integration with European institutions.

Gerold first travelled through Yugoslavia in 1980 with Michael on a hitchhiking journey to Greece. At that time, under Tito, entry was still controlled and difficult, and informal payments were sometimes expected. The route followed the Autoput, often in poor condition and requiring long, exhausting drives. They passed through Ljubljana, Zagreb, the Plitvice Lakes, Belgrade, and Skopje, stopping frequently along the way. During this first one-week journey, they slept in very basic and unusual places—sometimes in concrete pipes, unfinished buildings, or simply outdoors. The Plitvice Lakes, later known from Karl May film locations, left a strong impression. The return trip was faster, taken by bus.

In 1983, Gerold crossed Yugoslavia again by train with Barbara and Sabine on the way to Greece. The slow overnight journey offered little direct experience of the country, but the long, sluggish ride still lasted nearly two days. On this occasion, they did not return through Yugoslavia. The third journey took place in 1988 with Gundi and again lasted about a week. They visited Plitvice, Split, Niš, Dubrovnik, Belgrade, and other regions and landscapes. Although the scenery was impressive, people appeared rather reserved. At one lake, their car was broken into, but nothing was stolen. The return journey was straightforward and fast. After the violent conflicts of the 1990s, Yugoslavia dissolved and split into several independent states, including Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The region changed fundamentally after what became the last major wars in Europe.