Pelister National Park

Pelister was declared in 1948 and is the oldest national park in the country, covering the northern part of the Baba massif above Bitola, with Pelister itself reaching 2601 metres. Its distinction is the molika, a five-needled pine that survives here as a relict from before the ice ages and grows nowhere in such stands. Two glacial lakes, called Pelister's Eyes, sit high on the mountain, and paths climb to them from the road end.

Background

The park lies in the Municipality of Bitola and covers 171.5 square kilometres, with elevations from 891 to 2,601 metres. It was declared on November 30, 1948, the first national park in Yugoslavia. Granite stone rivers, or moraines, from the Pleistocene run up to 3 km long, alongside glacial cirques, and the two glacial lakes lie at around 2,200 metres. More than 1,050 plant species grow here. The Macedonian pine, Pinus peuce, was first described scientifically by the German botanist August Grisebach in 1843 after he found it on Pelister. Protected animals include the bearded vulture, the grey wolf and the European otter. Two mountain lodges, Begova Česma and Kopanki, had opened by 1938.

Source: Wikipedia, "Pelister National Park"

The landscape

• The molika pine - a relict five-needled pine surviving in stands on the massif.
• Pelister's Eyes - the two glacial lakes high on the mountain.
• The summit - Pelister at 2601 metres above Bitola.
• The 1948 designation - the country's first national park.

When to go

May to October is the walking season. December to March brings skiing at the small resort. Snow lies on the high ground into late spring.

Before you go

The ski facilities are small and dated. Paths to the lakes are long and the upper mountain is exposed. Cloud closes the summit views often.

Nearby

Bitola is below, and Lake Prespa is southwest.

Key facts