Officially known as the Republic of North Macedonia, this country is located in Southeast Europe, more specifically in the Balkan Peninsula.
It is a landlocked country, and it borders Albania to the west, Kosovo to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, Bulgaria to the east, and Greece to the south. Its capital city is Skopje.
Continue reading and discover all these amazing facts about North Macedonia.
North Macedonia Facts
1. The country’s history is very interesting
North Macedonia used to be known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM.
However, there is another region located in Greece which is also called Macedonia, where the ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon was created.
Historians have argued that the name ‘’Macedonia’’ is the oldest surviving name that has remained unchanged in European history.
Also, Skopje which is the capital city, is said to be at least seven thousand years old, making it one of the oldest cities in the world.
2. Until recently, people from North Macedonia weren’t able to write their language
Until the middle of the 20th century, Macedonian was mainly a spoken language, thus, nationals of this country weren’t able to write it down, as it didn’t have a standardized form.
Formal languages such as Greek or the Church Slavonic language were often used to write, as they were considered as the written norm back then.
But things started to change, and in 1945 the Macedonian alphabet was created and it became standardized. There are some unique letters and phonemes that cannot be found in any other language in the world.
An interesting fact about North Macedonia is that this language is one of the most difficult languages to learn, and not many foreigners choose to study this language.
3. North Macedonia has some high mountains
There are more than 34 mountain peaks that are very tall, and some geographists argue that this country has a higher number of mountains and peaks in comparison to the rest of the world, a fun Macedonia fact.
This is one of the reasons why tourists go to North Macedonia, because the country offers great hiking opportunities across its mountains.
In addition, most of the mountains are located more than 2,000 meters above the sea-level, and the highest mountain is Mount Golem Karb, which is situated at 2,753 meters above sea level.
4. North Macedonia is filled with nature and beauty
The government of the country makes sure its nature is taken care of, even though if they only have three national parks.
Mavrovo, the largest national park, was founded in 1949, and it has an artificial lake called Mavrovo as well. Tourists visit that area in order to do skiing, snowboarding, and related activities.
Also, North Macedonia has forests, mountains, and lakes throughout the territory. There are more than 100 rare species of trees that are native to this country.
There is one UNESCO site which is Ohrid, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. There, one can find many species of diverse plants and animals, and it is normal to see deer, bears and even wolves.
5. Many important individuals have been born there
An interesting North Macedonia fact is that Mother Teresa of Calcutta was born in Skopje, North Macedonia’s capital city.
Although, she was born in 1910, so North Macedonia was considered as being part of Albania during those days. This is why there is a statue and a museum in the city, in honor of her and all the work she did throughout her life.
Another important person that was born in the country was Alexander the Great. He was the King of the Kingdom of Macedonia, and is often considered as the first – and the greatest – conqueror of all times.
His Empire extended from Greece to Persia to India and even Egypt. However, Greece always claims Alexander the Great and this has been a source of dispute between the two countries.
Nonetheless, it cannot be argued that both individuals have put North Macedonia on the map, as they have represented their country internationally.
6. There is a lot of history in this country
Not only Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Alexander the Great have made North Macedonia relevant.
Apparently, according to some historians, parts of the cross that Jesus Christ carried are in North Macedonia.
According to historians, parts of the cross in which Jesus was crucified are, in fact, the foundations of some important monasteries that are located in this country.
For example, the St. Bogodorica Prechista Monastery, which is located in Kichevo, is one of the places that have the cross of Jesus Christ. The other two Monasteries are the St. Georgij Pobedonosec Monastery, located in Debar, and the St. Jovan Bigorski Monastery, located near Debar and Gostivar.
7. North Macedonia has one of the oldest observatories in the world
This country is fascinating because, according to NASA, the Kokino astronomic observatory is the fourth oldest observatory in the whole world, an interesting North Macedonia fact.
This observatory is located 30 km away from a town called Kumanovo, and it is close to the Serbian border, making it a very touristy attraction for those who go from that side of Europe.
Nowadays, people from all over the world are seen exploring North Macedonia because this country offers a unique way of seeing and experiencing the world.
It is also a great place to practice outdoor activities and it is very safe to visit. Also, because it hasn’t been flooded by tourists, it can be argued that Nort Macedonia still has most of its uniqueness, charm, and culture, intact.
North Macedonia is a place to visit, especially because it is located in a very strategic place, where it is easy to reach from wherever in the world you may be. Locals there will go out of their way to make you feel comfortable as if you were at home.
In addition, some of the most beautiful sceneries can be found in North Macedonia, from National Parks to reservoirs, this country has a lot to offer.
I hope that this article on North Macedonia facts was helpful. If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!