The Republic of Macedonia is a predominantly mountainous country. The average altitude of the terrain is 850 meters. Approximately 80% of the country consists of hills and mountains. The mountains are divided into two basic groups: Šar Mountains mountain range that continues to West Vardar/Pelagonia mountain range (also known as Dinaric range) and Osogovo-Belasica mountain chain (also known as Rhodope range). Šar Mountains and West Vardar/Pelagonia mountain range is a continuation between the Dinaric Alps and Pindus mountain ranges, whereas Osogovo-Belasica mountain chain is a continuation of the Rila-Rhodopes mountain massif.
Šar Mountains mountain range:
- Šar Mountains
- Mount Korab
- Mount Bistra
- Stogovo
- Galichica
- Dešat
- Jablanica
West Vardar/Pelagonia mountain range:
- Baba Mountain
- Jakupica
- Nidze
- Kozuf
Osogovo-Belasica mountain range:
- Osogovo
- Belasica
- Vlahina
- Maleshevo
- Plachkovica
- Ograzden
The mountains in the Osogovo-Belasica group are older mountains. They are spread across the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The mountains in the Šar Mountains group are younger mountains, situated in the western and central part of the country. They are divided in 3 subgroups: area around the Vardar river, area around Pelagonia valley and the area in the north-western part of the country.
There are three national parks protected by law in the Republic of Macedonia: Pelister, Mavrovo and Galichica.
Following is a list of the most important Macedonian mountains:
- Mount Korab (2764 m)
- Šar Mountains (2747 m)
- Baba Mountain(2601 m)
- Jakupica (2540 m)
- Nidze (2521 m)
- Dešat (2373 m)
- Galichica (2288 m)
- Stogovo (2273 m)
- Jablanica (2257 m)
- Osogovo (2252 m)
- Kožuf (2166 m)
- Bistra (2163 m)
- Celoica (2062 m)
- Belasica (2029 m)
- Kozjak (1284 m)
- Plakenska planina
- Konechka planina
- Maleshevo
- Plachkovica
- Busheva planina
- Babuna
- Ograzden
- Selechka planina
- Skopska Crna Gora
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In ten degrees of more indulgent skies,
Nor at the coarseness of our heaven repine,
Though o’er our heads the frozen Pleiads shine:
‘Tis Liberty that crowns Britannia’s Isle,
And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.”
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)