SPACEPHOTOS

Lakes Ohrid & Prespa, Albania/Macedonia Winter/Spring 1997 Located just below the center of the image, Lake Ohrid, the deepest lake in the Balkans, can be seen in this south-southeast looking view. Just to the left of Lake Ohrid is Lake Prespa, the highest lake in the Balkans. The smaller Mikri Prespa is just to the left (east) of Lake Prespa. Lake Ohrid is 25 miles (40 km) long and covers and area of 130 sq. miles (340 sq. km). Lake Prespa is 14 miles (23 km) long and approximately 8 miles (13 km) wide and covers an area of 112 sq. miles (290 sq. km). Lake Prespa drains into Lake Ohrid through a series of underground channels. The terrain around the lakes is hilly but not overly steep. The region around the lakes supports a larger population than other inland areas in Albania, northern Greece, and Macedonia. Most of Albania is visible in this view (right of the lakes). The terrain, except for a narrow coastal plain, is mountainous and often inaccessible. Soils are of a poor quality except in the intermontaine river valleys, along Lakes Orhid and Prespa. The Vlores Gulf and Adriatic Sea are visible in the top right corner of the image.