ger+Pelister

Pelister National Park is located in the south-western part of the Republic of Macedonia, encompassing an area of 17.150 ha on the northern side of the Baba massif at altitudes between 900 and 2601m.

The regional road Bitola-Resen and the Bigla Mountain are on the north of the Park and the border with Greece is on the south. On the east of the Park are the Pelagonide valley and the city of Bitola and on the west are the Prespa valley and the city of Resen.

Pelister National Park was proclaimed on November 30, 1948 by a law endorsed by the Presidium of the People’s Republic of Macedonia (First proclaimed National park in Former Yougoslavia (SFRY). According to the Law on Nature Protection the public institution Pelister National Park is responsible for the protection and management of the Park.

Stone Rivers on Pelister  

From periglacial relief that appeared on Pelister, certainly the most remarkable are the so-called stone rivers. This is actually the slope of the terrain filled with crushed material, composed of granite blocks, dolerite, gabbros and quartz schist, piled on each other, without any orientation. At certain places on Pelister, stone rivers have long range up to 3km.


Pelister


In the alpine regions of Pelister, there is another interesting phenomenon. That are stone seas. These striking relief forms are generated by the grinding of rock ice surface, which is usually a mild slope, so devastated rocky material remains on the spot of creation. Classic appearance of such a sea of stones can be seen on the northeastern side of the peak Pelister, towards the Peak Steve.

In the high parts of Pelister dominated sharp rocky reefs, improperly accrued rocks after widespread mountain crest, plowing blocks, stone rings, grass terraces and four zircon, at Pelister, which of two are filled with water and exist as glacial lakes.

 

The waters in Pelister National Park 

Pelister massif is cut through with a number of picturesque mountain rivers that run through clear and cold waters. All make up their primeval wilderness decor in the mountainous landscape. They are an ornament of the mountain which venerate landscape seep through.

Some of the water flowing to Lake Prespa belong to the Adriatic basin, and others get Pelagonian Valley through the Aegean basin. From the high mountain valleys descend the nearby 23 river flows. They have a pronounced mountain character. Longest water flow on Pelister that has length of 46 km is the river Shemnica.

The hydrographical properties, with special attraction are the two glacial lakes - Big and Small Lake on Pelister called "Pelister Eyes".


Pelister


Big Lake lies at an altitude of 2218. It is one of the highest glacial lakes in Macedonia. It extends north-south. It covers an area of 4.2 ha. Is 223 m long, 162 m wide, with a depth of 14.5 meters. 

Small Lake lies at 2180 meters altitude. It is source crest of Red River. Is 79 m long, 68 m wide, 2.6 m deep. Remote is around 2 km from the Big Lake, in northwest direction.

 Flora and Fauna at National Park Pelister

The flora of Pelister consists of more than 1050 systemic units of superior plants of which most, that is more than 900 kinds, are hidden-seed plants. Among the superior plants about 90 are tree-like plants divided into 23 families.


Pelister


The Molika pine – Pinus peuce is the best known feature of National Park Pelister. This species was discovered by the Austrian botanist August Grisebach in 1839. Although the Molika is also found in other mountains of the Balkans, one of the oldest and most  compact forest communities can be found on Pelister. By walking on Pelister it is possible to find trees over 230 years old. The “molika pine”, which was the primary reason for declaring Pelister a national park, can be found here in three associations such as “molika” with the eagle fern known as Pterideo-Pinetum peucis, “molika” with blueberry Vaccinio-Pinetum peucis, while the alpine part of Pelister is marked by the Gentiano-lutae-Pinetum peucis association.

 

 Endemic species at Pelister 

 

Three higher plant species – Alchemila peristerica, Dianthus myrtinervius,

Dianthus stenopetalus (found only on Pelister)

            Invertebrae – Nipargus pancici (local endemic sp.), Eucypris curtdiebeli

(Macedonian endemic sp.)

            Insects – Duvalius macedonicus, Duvalius persitericus, Tepinopterus comita, Nebra aetolica macedonica, Tapinopterus monastirensis monastirensis, Trechus goebli goebli (found only in Pelister).

            Brukentalia (Bruckenthalia spiculifolia) communities (protected by the

Bern convention).

In the spring and summer, visitors can view the daily butterflies: Scythris crupta andScythris similis, which live only in Peliste. You can also view the night butterflyHadena clara macedonica that ist found only in Macedonia.

Popular animal species, are also very present, such as: brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Linx linx), wild goat (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica), and many other species of national and global importance.

 

 Cultural heritage

  Malovishta is the only village within the borders of the Pelister NP. The monastery St. Ana and St. Spas are near the village.

Around Pelister, there are 40 churches and monasteries dating from as early as the 12th century.


Pelister


If you are archeology lover, you can visit the settlements from the Iron Age and the medieval period that are near the park. Following the ancient path Via Ignatius which passes through the Park you will have a unique opportunity to walk the same road that traveled the Apostle Paul, the Macedonian Phalanx, the Roman Legions and the Byzantine Tsars.

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