Galičica (Macedonian: Галичица, Albanian: Mali i Thatë) is a mountain located along the border between North Macedonia and Albania. The part of the mountain in North Macedonia is named a national park and is found between the country’s two largest lakes, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa. It covers an area of 227 square kilometers (88 square miles). The mountain reaches an elevation of 2,265 meters above sea level and has different types of land, including steep slopes and large changes in height, which create various areas with forests and grasslands.

Since the 1950s, the landscape has changed significantly. Forested areas increased from 40% to 58% by 2007, while grasslands decreased from 50% to 24% due to changes in human activities. The mountain has high biodiversity, with 180 types of woody plants (56% of North Macedonia’s tree species) and special grassland areas that support many rare and unique species. Human impact varies across the mountain. Areas near Lake Ohrid shifted from farming to tourism, while areas near Lake Prespa saw fewer people and unused land. Galičica’s location between two major lakes, its limestone rock type, and its modified Mediterranean climate helped it remain a safe place for plants during cold ice ages. These factors contribute to its rich plant life and its role as an important area where different plant species meet.

Geography and characteristics

The mountain has different types of land with steep slopes and large differences in height. These natural features have created different plant areas, mainly forests and pastures. The types of rocks, climate, water conditions, and soil in the area have all affected the kinds of plants that grow there. Only a small part of the land has been used for farming by people, with most of the area remaining as natural forests and pastures. There are about 23 populated areas on the mountain, with around 10,000 people living there. Out of the 38,000 hectares of land, about 6,000 hectares have been used for farming, mostly as fields and orchards.

Galičica Mountain reaches 2,265 meters above sea level, with its highest areas located in the southern part called Stara Galičica (Old Galičica). Studies from the 1990s found two glacial cirques in this area: one at 2,030–2,070 meters and another at 1,850–1,900 meters. The natural tree line on the mountain has been changed by human activity, lowered by about 500 meters. Evidence includes pine trees (Pinus peuce) growing at elevations up to 2,150 meters near the Magaro peak (2,254 meters), while the current forest line averages around 1,600 meters, reaching its highest point at 1,880 meters on the northern slopes.

The high-mountain area of Galičica has different ecological features depending on the direction the slopes face. Periglacial landforms, which are common in high mountain areas, appear at different heights based on slope direction: sliding blocks are found as low as 1,850 meters on the northwestern slopes, while grass terraces extend to 1,900 meters on the northeastern slopes. These differences are caused by local factors like exposure to moist air, differences in rainfall on different sides of the mountain, and temperature conditions from different slope directions. Along with the first high-mountain area covered by large grasslands, these features help define Galičica's unique alpine character.

Land use changes and transformations

Major changes in how land is used on Galičica Mountain occurred between the 1950s and 2007. These changes were caused by both natural growth processes and human activities. One major change was the increase in forested areas, which grew from about 40% of the total land area in the 1950s to 58% by 2007. This growth happened mainly because shrubland naturally matured into forests over time. At the same time, pasturelands decreased significantly, going from 50% of the total area in the 1950s to 24% by 2007. This decline was linked to the decline of traditional cattle farming as local economies focused more on tourism and service jobs. Areas covered by short-stemmed vegetation and shrubs also decreased, from 14% in the 1970s to 5% in 2007. This reduction was mainly due to these areas naturally turning into forested land as part of ecological changes over time.

Human impact and regional differences

The way humans have affected the landscape of Galičica changes depending on the location and has changed over time. Areas near Lake Ohrid, such as Konjsko, Peštani, Trpejca, and Ljubaništa, have grown in population, but the land used for farming has decreased. These communities have mostly shifted from farming to jobs in tourism, trade, and other services. Even though their populations increased, farmland in these areas has been replaced by non-farming uses like homes, buildings, yards, religious places, and cemeteries. In contrast, areas on the Prespa side of the mountain, including Oteševo, Leskoec, Petrino, Preljubje, and Stipona, have seen large drops in population because people have moved to cities or other countries. This change has caused farmland to be left unused, and over time, these fields have changed naturally. Overall, human activity has increased near the shores of both lakes but has decreased in the mountain areas, where people now visit mainly for recreation and tourism.

Factors and causes of land transformation

The changes in Galičica's landscape have been influenced by a mix of social, economic, and natural causes. Making Galičica a national park, changes in how land is used, the growth of cities, the development of factories, and the building of roads and other structures have all affected how land is used. Changes in culture and education, the way people have lived in the area over time, and how different parts of the land are used for specific purposes have also played a role. Economically, the move from farming as the main activity to manufacturing and services has had a major impact, along with changes in how energy is used and traditional farming methods. These social and economic changes have happened at the same time as natural processes, such as plants growing back on old farmland and pastures, turning into shrubs and later into forests. Weather changes in the local area and worldwide have also influenced these changes. Studies of these changes used maps from the 1950s and 1970s, compared with satellite images from 2007, and all the data was analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology.

Biodiversity

Galičica Mountain has a lot of different types of plants and animals. Its dry grasslands are very important homes for many rare and endangered plant species. Studies from 2009 to 2010 found a special grassland group called Siderito montanae – Trifolietum dalmaticae, which grows on limestone soil on both the Ohrid and Prespa sides of the mountain. These grasslands formed after forests were damaged by activities like grazing, burning, and other human actions in oak and lower beech forests at heights between 700 and 1200 meters.

The types of plants in Galičica's dry grasslands are influenced by the region's climate, which is similar to the Mediterranean but has some differences. Research shows a mix of plant types from different areas, with 35% from the Eurimediterranean region, 28% from Eurasia, and 17% from the Balkans. Some rare plants that only grow here include Erodium guicciardii, which was first found in Macedonia on Galičica Mountain, as well as Minuartia glomerata subsp. macedonica, Centaurea grisebachii, and Verbascum longifolium subsp. pannosum. The mountain’s location between two large lakes, its limestone soil, and its mild climate helped it act as a safe place for plants and animals during cold periods, which contributed to its high biodiversity today.

Galičica Mountain has a wide variety of trees and woody plants. Studies from 1995 to 2018 found 180 different types of trees and woody plants, which make up 56% of all such plants in North Macedonia. This includes 42.2% trees, 34.5% shrubs, 14% small shrubs, 7.7% climbing plants, and 1.6% parasitic plants that grow on other plants. The mountain’s position between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa, its limestone soil, and the region’s climate created perfect conditions for many rare and unique plants. About 12.8% of the mountain’s woody plants are found only in the Balkans and nearby areas. Some rare plants grow only on Galičica or on one or two other mountains in Macedonia, such as Prunus prostrata, Genista radiata, Pinus heldreichii, Euphorbia veneta, and Aesculus hippocastanum. The mountain also marks the farthest southern or northern limits for several species, such as Juniperus sabina and Pinus peuce (which grow farthest south) and Acantholimon ulicinum and Prunus prostrata (which grow farthest north).

Gallery

• From the top of Galičica, visitors can see Ohrid Lake and Prespa Lake
• From Galičica, visitors can see the southern part of Ohrid Lake
• A road passes through Galičica
• From Galičica, visitors can see the northern part of Ohrid Lake
• From Galičica, visitors can see Ohrid town
• Inside the mountain of Galičica
• From Galičica, visitors can see the southern part of Ohrid Lake
• The highest peak in Galičica is Magaro, which is 2,255 meters tall
• From Galičica, visitors can see the village of Trpejca
• From Galičica, visitors can see the east coast of Ohrid Lake
• View from Korita
• Magaro Peak, 2,255 meters tall