Lake Ohrid
One of the oldest lakes in the world
Lake Ohrid [ ɔxridze ː ] macedonian Ohridsko ežero Охридско Езеро, Albanian Liqeni i Ohrit, rarely Liqeni i Pogradecit, is the largest lake in Macedonia, one of the biggest on the Balkan Peninsula and one of the oldest on earth. The water level is 695 m above sea level. Lake Ohrid, has a maximum depth of 289 meters and covers an area of 349 km ². The greater part belongs to the Republic of Macedonia, the smaller the Republic of Albania. On Macedonian banks are Ohrid and Struga the most important cities in the Albanian it is Pogradec. In total, more than 200,000 people living around the lake.
Inflows and outflows
Lake Ohrid has no significant inflows. It is fed by numerous source streams. The most important source is the Sveti Naum monastery. There emerges water that flows underground from the 200 m higher and southeast, from Lake Ohrid Lake Prespa. Whether this connection, however, still exists or when and how long it has existed, is not certain. It is possible that this compound is of a temporary nature and is opened and separated by geological processes in karst rock of the mountain range between the two lakes. On the Albanian side, a major source in the park of Drillon located near the town Tushemisht. Another underground spring at Tushemisht is used for the water supply of Pogradec.
The lake in Struga is drained by the river Black Drin down to the Adriatic. Sluices regulate the drain.
Genesis
Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes in the world. Its age is estimated at 2-5 million years the incidence of endemic species (see below) suggests an origin in the Pliocene, more than 2.6 million years ago, close. The lake was created by a grave breach. The occurring today tectonic activity probably require the existence of an approximately 100 meter high mountain subaquatic.
Research
Based on the existing seamless sediments in the lake an exploration of paläoklimatologischen conditions is quite possible. Currently, inter alia, researchers devote the reconstruction of Late Quaternary climatic and environmental history of the lake.
Flora and Fauna
As Europe's most famous Langzeitsee of Lake Ohrid is notable for its fauna. Many of the typical in other European waters fish species are missing, eg all rights perch, grayling, char and coregonids, the pike and the three-spined stickleback.
In contrast, here are some occur on the Balkan endemic species, such as the Barbengründling ( Aulopyge huegelii ) and other carp species from the genera Pachychilon and Phoxinellus. ( Quran maz Ohridska Pastrmka, alb Salmo letnica. . ) Economically important is the endemic Ohrid trout. It is threatened due to overfishing, but also bred in fish farms. There are also various representatives of gastropods, which spread during the Mesozoic in the Paratethys. In addition to fishing, tourism is an important source of income for rings situated around the lake communities.
Southeast of the lake lies the National Park Galičica, comprising the entire Galičica Mountains and extends to the Lake Prespa. Together with the Old Town of Ohrid include this section of the shore and the entire lake since 1979 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
On the slopes of the north-west of Jablanica mountain range, there are areas planted with vines and chestnut plantations. The horse chestnut leaf miner ( Cameraria ohridella ) was observed for the first time here in Europe.
History
Ancient peoples and tribes such as the Illyrians, the Macedonians and the Greeks settled around the lake and founded the cities Lychnidos (today Ohrid), Enhallon (maybe today Struga ) and Damastion. In the Illyrian city Damastion whose location is not known, but has been handed down through there embossed silver coins, there was a silver mine. The cities benefited from raw materials such as gold and silver in the area. The settlement area next to the lake was controversial and the scene of repeated conflicts. The Macedonians were able to bring the region under Philip II ( 359-336 BC) under their rule.
On Lake Ohrid resulted in antiquity by the Roman road Via Egnatia, which connected the eastern Adriatic coast with Thessaloniki and Constantinople Opel. Around the first turn of the millennium was Ohrid short time the capital of the Bulgarian Empire.
On September 5, 2009, a tour boat sank in Lake Ohrid with Bulgarian tourists on board some 250 meters from the shore in Ohrid, in which 15 people died. Considerably more people than allowed On board the 1924 -built ship in Germany, but as the cause of the accident was far from clear, there were several, including bizarre theories floating around. Local police said a few months later that the ship had too many passengers and that there was almost no lifebuoys on board. This led to the relatively large number of dead.