Dojran Lake

About this place

Dojran Lake is a round lake shared between North Macedonia and Greece, covering 43.1 square kilometres, of which 27.3 lie on the Macedonian side. It is the third largest lake partly in the country after Ohrid and Prespa, and people from the region come in summer, with small towns, hotels and beaches around it. The lake is shallow, with a maximum depth of 10 m, and measures 8.9 km long and 7.1 km wide, drained by a river flowing to the Vardar. Overuse of its water for farming once caused a dangerous drop in level, but measures by both countries, together with heavy rain in later years, helped restore it. On the Macedonian shore lie the towns of Star Dojran and Nov Dojran, with low buildings, restaurants and swimming areas. Trees and thick reed beds ring the lake, and Mount Belasica rises to the north. From nearby hills the grey water looks vast, reaching to the far Greek shore. The lake is 17 km in a straight line from Kolešino Falls, so the two fit a day from Strumica. Cross to the other side only at official border crossings. Ask locally about water quality and beaches before swimming, since the shallow lake is affected by the weather. Summer is liveliest, while spring and autumn are kinder for strolling.