North Macedonia’s UNESCO World Heritage Site Lake Ohrid At Risk From Pollution

October 30, 2024

OHRID, North Macedonia (Reuters) - Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site that straddles North Macedonia and Albania, is at risk from pollution, overfishing, and urban development, the United Nations body and experts say. The lake, one of Europe's oldest dating back 3.5 million years, is home to around 200 unique species, including rare varieties of trout. It serves as a significant tourist attraction and revenue source for North Macedonia and Albania. The North Macedonia side of Lake Ohrid was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979 and UNESCO expanded the designation to the Albanian side of the lake in May, 2019. In its 2024 repor...