North Macedonia’s Lake Ohrid at risk from pollution

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 report earlier this year, UNESCO warned about the poor quality of real estate development around the lake and over tourism around the coast. It also warned both North Macedonia and Albania that measures to address existing threats and prevent new ones, have not been put...