About Prespes

Waterway volume of Prespa joining three countries, Greece, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Through closes the natural wealth and absolute serenity that dominate in this special corner of Macedonia. In the northwestern part of Greece, within a huge mountain lap  the beauty of Big  and Small Prespa are kept. 

A huge bowl of lake is about 300 square kilometers bounded east from the mountain of Varnounta,west from the Mount Vrondero,south of the verdant slopes of Triklariou and in the distant northern horizon from the usually snow-capped mountains of Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Great Prespa Lake, the largest lake in the Balkans, located at an altitude of 853m. and has a maximum depth of 50m.Covering an area of ​​288 sq. km, 37 of them belongs to Greece.A narrow neck of land, 5 km in length and width ranging from 8 to 1,000. separates the Great Prespa from her sister lake, Small Prespa, the Vrygiida under the ancient name. 

The Little Prespa has an area of ​​44 sq. km and only a small part belongs to Albania.Prespa,  with Malik and Ohrid lakes are unity and are called lakes Dassaritikis basin.Drive from Athens the distance to Florina is 540 km away and from Thessaloniki only 165. From Florina you will cover 45 more km to Prespa and it is advisable to look for the mountain crossing Pisoderio, where you will encounter many twists and turns.The landscape, however, will reward you.The route from Florina to Prespa is one of the most beautiful in northern Greece, in every season.

The forest area is the richest in our country and it is covered with oaks, towering beeches, birches and trees from unique in Greek space, such as cornflower Prespa and the forest of  berries.In the waters of the two lakes the natural beauty of the region of Prespa is reflected, an area in which they find valuable shelter some of the rarest species of animals and birds.The rich flora and fauna of this place and the  impressive biodiversity resulted declared the area as a National Park since 1974.Indeed, the lakeside villages of Psarades and Agios Germanos are traditional settlements of the Forest. The Little Prespa and the island there in downtown, the Saint Achilles, and specific lake areas, giving  to the Forest the identity of a unique wetland, protected by the Treaty Ramsar. 

The wetland of Prespa is one of the 11 Greek wetlands of international importance.On the wooded slopes of the surrounding mountains and the reed of waters of the Park estimated that there are over 1300 species of plants, 15 species of fish, 11 species of amphibians, 40 mammals and 260 species of birds. In this unique 'earthly paradise' nest and reproduce some of the rarest species of the animal kingdom.In Prespa you will find Dalmatian pelicans that they are endangered.1000 pairs left in the world and 150 of them live in this region.Still someone can see herons, cormorants, geese, raptors such Stavraetou, golden eagles, fidaetous, peregrines, several species of frogs and toads as well as 20 species of reptiles!So pay your footsteps.During the 1970s no visitors   permited to approach and navigate the area, without special permission and without the escort soldier, as the Greek-Albanian border was a very politically sensitive area.Since then of course things have changed greatly.Before you start wandering in this so special place,  it is useful to visit the Information Center of the small village Agios Germanos.From there you can get hiking maps for the area, brochures for the particular history of Prespa and its remarkable flora and fauna.Do not forget to bring along your camera and certainly binoculars.The Centre may also guide you in the area with trained guides-guides.