The Dojran area is one of the most beautiful natural resorts in Macedonia.
Studies point to the fact that the area around the lake was inhabited as early
as pre-historical times. Inscriptions of the 5th century B.C. describe the life
of the area of present-day Lake Dojran in the ancient times. After the Roman
period, Dojran was under Byzantine jurisdiction and was given the name of Polin
meaning "town." In 1391 the Turks conquered it and its inhabitants were forced
to move to the place where Star Dojran is today. In the 19th century Dojran was
a beautiful town situated on a hill facing the lake, with small shops, inns, and
craftsmen’s workshops. After the WWI bombing the people moved to today’s New
Dojran. The Municipality of Star Dojran extends around the lake and it borders
Greece.
The 10-meter-deep Lake Dojran lies at 48m above sea level and it is the third
largest lake in Macedonia, covering an area of 42,7 km2. Lake Dojran is the
smallest tectonic lake that was formed in the Neogene’s Quarter period and is of
the tectonic-volcanic period. Invertebrates, vertebrates, 12 endemic fauna
species, 15 fish species, and several bird species are on the Corinne list. Lake
Dojran is known for the specific manner of fishing with the assistance of birds,
which catch the fish with their beaks and take them to the fishermen.
In the last decade of the 20th century, however, Lake Dojran has become an
issue of public concern because of its gradual emptying. The surrounding
inhabitants drained the lake of its precious water in order to irrigate outlying
crops and feed the demands of growing nations. The lake has lost as many as 2
meters in depth, almost 30 percent of its water, and at some points the old
shore lies almost 1km away from the new shoreline. Because of this, Lake Dojran,
once known for its beauty, was turned into an ecological disaster zone.
Fortunately, today some effort is being made to refill the lake. Though it might
seem like a small step, it still brings hope for reviving tourism in this area.
Fishing with cormorants, which was part of the fishing tradition of this small
lake, is slowly dying out, as well.
The town and Lake Dojran are located in the southeast of Macedonia, about 170
km away from Skopje. Mt. Belasica stretches to the north. The fact that this
valley opens to the south determines the region's Mediterranean climate, which
is with hot and dry summers and mild, wet winters.
There are two fishing communities in the town - Old and New Dojran.
