One of the Top Ten Canyons in Europe

T he sizeable population of Skopje is lucky to have one of the continent’s most exciting canyons on the outskirts of the city, just half an hour, ride away from the centre. It is ideal for recreational activities, and its high wet walls create an “air conditioning” effect, which is especially valued in the traditionally hot and dry summers when the concrete jungle of the capital becomes unbearably hot. The place is also popular with the kids from the surrounding villages who usually swim and jump in the lake from the rocks never failing to attract the attention of other visitors. But it is not only for the cooling effect that the Matka Canyon is so popular. It boasts 1,000 plant species, twenty per cent of which are endemic, as well as various butterfly species not found anywhere else in Europe. The canyon is also home to vultures and, occasionally, bald eagles which are protected by law to save them from extinction. Read more …