Tetovo is located close to the Shar Mountain, the highest and biggest mountain area in Macedonia. This is an important feature of the city where the mountain is always somewhere in the landscape, and the everyday life connected to it.

Shar Planina massif spreads from the Lepenec river on northeast, to the inflow of Mavrovska Reka rivulet into Radika river on south, between Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo. The main characteristic of this mountain is the long continuous ridge, which is 85 km long, starting from Ljuboten to Vrutok. The surface of this huge massif is more than 1600 km2. The highest peak is Titov Vrv (2748m). Shar planina counts 39 lakes and 25 of them are permanents.
Landscape values

The literal translation of the mountain’s name means “pied mountain”. Thus, people believe that the name is given by the colorful look of the mountain peaks, where the old snow often meets the new one. There are several other legends for the name Shar. But, the most acceptable is that the name Shar originates from the Latin name “Scardus” that means colorful in Macedonian.

The extraordinary landscapes are the specific mark that distinguishes this mountain from the other large mountains in Macedonia. Glacial lakes are décor of Shar Planina and they contribute to the overallandscape value.

The wild look of Shar Planina comes from the silicate and calcareous rocky peaks, the numerous wild and clear streams, but also the continuous beech, oak and coniferous forests. The tameness of the massif is determined by the infinite pastures on the crests and the rural landscapes in the lower parts.

Water richness

The water network of Shar Planina Mountain is composed of numerous springs and rivers several glacial lakes, steep mountain watercourses and waterfalls. The most important and bigger river flows are Pena, Radika, Mazdracha, Bistrica, Bogovinska, Reka and others. There are 25 glacial lakes on Shar Planina Mountain that have water duringall year. All of them are unique, but some lakes deserve to be mentioned:
- Bogovinsko Ezero (it is the largest glacial lake in Macedonia with 6600 m2)
- Crno Ezero
- Belo Ezero
- Karanikolichko Ezero

Biodiversity

Shar Planina Mountain biodiversity is immense and consists of numerous habitats, plants, animals and fungi. There are a lot of endemic species. For example, the percentage of the endemic plant species is very high (31,3 %). Many plant and animal species got their names after the name of the mountain (Shar planina tea, Shar Planina tulip, Shar planina crocus, Shar Planina Mullein and others). The presence of large carnivores (brown bear, Balkan lynx, wolf), chamois, roe deer and many other mammals enrich the biodiversity of Shar Planina Mountain.

Sport

Several trecks are possible in the mountain. For that one can ask for information in the mountain clubs of Tetovo.
Importants trecks every year:
May: Tito Vrv trek
2nd, August: Leshnika trek

www.sharamountainguide.com.mk
+389 75 64 93 93

During the winter, one can go skiing in Popova Shapka.