North Macedonia has some very good surprises up its sleeve - one of the deepest underwater caves (330 metres) in the world, one of the oldest lakes in the world (3 million years old), birthplace of Mother Teresa and probably Alexander the Great (contentious issue between Greece and Macedonia) and mines containing minerals (lorandite) which are found nowhere else in the world. As I continued exploring this beautiful country, I ended up at Lake Matka. A place which made me wonder how a small country like North Macedonia can have such stunners in its closet.
One can either drive or take a taxi (€20 round trip) but I took the cheapest option - bus no. 60 runs every 2 hours from the central bus station in Skopje (€2.50 round trip). The Matka Lake is formed in this gorgeous canyon as the river running through the gorge is dammed. The water from the lake is used for irrigation and electricity generation.
The area has cafes/restaurants lining the lake, kayaking facilities, hiking trails and boat rides (in the canyon & to the underwater Vrelo cave, which is one of the deepest underwater caves in the world).
First up was the boat ride to Vrelo cave. The water color, the greenery, the mountains and the cool breeze make it an enjoyable experience and I did not want the ride to end.
The cave is the only one open to the public. A guide takes you around the cave and provides information about the place. You can admire the stalactites and stalagmites in all its glory - it comes in various shapes and sizes. A lot of divers have explored the cave, but only a part of it has been discovered till date. It's a very cool 12 degrees inside the cave.
There are a few boat houses on the shores of Matka Lake. Some are hidden behind the bushes and the cool thing is that these are for rent (around €40 a day including transport and a kayak). It is accessible only by boat. It is a wonderful place to spend a day or two in the lap of nature.
After exploring the cave for some time, we were transported back to the drop off point. I decided to hike a bit before having my lunch. There are trails running along side the lake and you can walk to your heart's content.
One can also hike to St. Nikola monastery. The steep path through bushes and woods takes around 30 minutes and it is a bit exhausting.
Another way to explore the canyon is through the kayak. There are single or double ones and they can be rented by the hour.
After lunch, I spent some time admiring the rock climbing skills of a few people taking up the challenge. I thought of taking a dip in the lake but the water was so cold that I chickened out - it was unbelievable how cold the water was in peak summer!
After spending an hour or so at the lakeside, it was time to head back to the bus stand and take my ride back to Skopje.
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