Everything you need to know about Macedonia: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more

Macedonia: Country in the Balkan Peninsula

The ancient Kingdom of Macedonia was defeated by the Roman Empire in 148 BC and in 395 AD the Byzantine Empire took over Macedonia from the Romans only to cede it to the Turks in 1371. For the next five centuries Macedonia was under the Turkish rule. The economic and strategic benefits offered by Macedonia made it a central place in the Balkan power struggle. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878 ended the Russo-Turkish War and Bulgaria got the largest part of Macedonia. In 1918 Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, and Montenegro combined together and formed the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes to rule over Macedonia under the name of Yugoslavia. However the constant urge and struggle of the Macedonians for freedom finally resulted in independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Macedonia Profile: Overview of Facts and Figures

· National Name: Republic of Macedonia (listed by the UN as The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
· Capital: Skopje
· Total area: 25,713 sq km (9,928 sq miles)
· Population: 2 million (UN, 2008)
· Currency: Denar
· Languages: Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)
· Ethnicity/ Races: Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)
· Religion: Macedonian Orthodox 64.7%, Muslim 33.3%, other Christian 0.37%, other and unspecified 1.63% (2002 census)
· GDP (Per Capita): $9,200 (2008 est.)
· Life Expectancy: Male: 71.95 years, Female: 77.13 years (2008 est.)
· Literacy Rate: Male: 98.2%, Female: 94.1% (2002 census)

Geographical Information on Macedonia:
Macedonia is a landlocked state in the heart of the Balkans Peninsula. It is bordered by Serbia from the north, Bulgaria from the east, Greece from the south and Albania from the west.
Macedonia enjoys transitional climate from Mediterranean to continental. The summers are hot and dry while the winters are moderately cold. Average annual precipitation varies from 67 inches in the western mountainous area to 20 inches in the eastern area.

Culture and Cuisine of Macedonia:
Macedonia’s age-old architecture, monasteries and churches offer a beautiful contrast of past with the present. Macedonia has many ancient preserved religious sites that reflect it’s historical and cultural legacy. It has beautifully preserved Byzantine frescoes from the period between 11th to 16th centuries. This not only reflects cultural legacy but also provides valuables historic inputs.

The cuisine of Macedonia is deeply influenced from the Turkish and Slavic style of preparations. The ajvar is a sauce made with tomatoes and paprika and commonly used as an appetizer with bread and salumi. The main Macedonia cuisine is the sarma vo lozov stewed pork and beef minced wrapped in vine leaves, often served with sour cream or hot pepper.

Macedonia Economy:
The economy of Macedonia is largely based on trade with various countries. The Government of Macedonia has taken several initiatives in order accelerates its trading partnership with several nations. The Macedonian government implemented policies focused on attracting foreign investment and promoting the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Textiles, iron, steel, wine and vegetables are the main trading commodities of Macedonian economy.

Tourist Attractions of Macedonia:
The Macedonian natural beauty is scattered around the Balkan valleys provides plethora of natural scenic beauty that changes according to the changing seasons.

Skopje: Skopje’s old city still reflects the period of Turkish rule. Outstanding examples of 15th century Turkish architecture are the baths of Daud Pasha and the mosques of Mustapha Pasha and Sultan Murad remain the cherished place for tourists.

Ohrid: Ohrid Lake is the largest tectonic lake and the most popular holiday resort in Macedonia. The several medieval monasteries and churches around the lake such as the Sv. Naum Monastery near the Albanian border attracts the tourists who visit this Balkan country.

Major Sight-seeing Places in Macedonia include:

· Mavrovo National Park
· Monastery St. Bigorski
· Bitola