Golem Korab 2764 masl
Golem Korab (2753 m) is the highest peak of Mount Korab, and also the highest peak in the Republic of Macedonia. The peak is located in the northern part of the mountain, on the border with the Republic of Albania. The top is quite steep, especially towards the Albanian side, and is built of Triassic limestones. Due to the high altitude, there are traces of Pleistocene glaciation nearby and at the foot: cirques, waves, moraines, etc. Below the peak springs Dlaboka Reka (right tributary of Radika), on which is the 133 m high Proifel waterfall.
Mount Korab can be reached by the western highway Gostivar – Debar. Somewhere around 8 km from Mavrovi Anovi towards Debar, near the Trnica motel, or rather at the Reka junction (where the Mavrvovska river flows into Radika). It turns right towards the village of Nichpur and the village of Strezimir.
From this intersection, i.e. Reka, follow a macadam road (regularly maintained) for about 15 km to reach the Strezimir police station, from the police station continue along the same macadam road that leads along the Radika river for another 4 km. Then turn left towards the Pobeda watchtower, which is 1.5 km away from the turn.
There is a border police in the Pobeda watchtower and it is recommended that you register before the ascent and leave your contact information and brief information about the planned tour and actually from here the conquest of the Golem Korab peak begins, which takes you 4-5 hours. The path is marked. There is no mountain lodge on this mountain. If you decide to spend more than one day, you need to bring a tent and a sleeping bag with you.
Korab is a mountain in Macedonia, on the border with Albania. On it is the highest point (peak) in the country – Golem Korab, which is 2764 meters above sea level. Korab is a mountain range that stretches in a south-north direction. Due to the unique natural characteristics, the part of the mountain that enters the borders of Macedonia was recognized as part of the national park “Mavrovo” in 1952.
Mount Korab stretches about 40 kilometers from north to south. It starts where Shar Mountain ends and continues towards the Black Dream River
These peaks are randomly separated through tectonic movements making block shapes that end with the valley of the Radika River. These blocks under the influence of glacial erosion have made holes that reach up to 500 m deep. The most striking example of this type of erosion is the upper course of Dlaboka Reka, where the famous canyon of the same name was formed with almost vertical sides and sharp edges between which there are a large number of waterfalls, especially on the side of Kobilino Pole.
View of Korab from the Albanian side
Korab has several plateaus, among which Kobilino Pole on the Macedonian side and Radomirsko Pole on the Albanian side stand out.
Although relatively difficult to pass, on the Korab massif there are several passes (near the peaks of the same name) that are used by the local population and mountaineers. The most famous are:
Mala Korapska Vrata (2478 m) – between the peaks of Golem Korab and Mala Korapska Vrata;
Ciganski Premin (2290 m) – between the peaks of Ciganski Vrv and Derza;
Great Korapska Vrata (2062 m) – between the peaks of Ziberova Kula and Bel Vrv;
Skrtec (2020 m) – between the peaks of Shupliv Kamen and Plocha;
The alpine landscapes of Kabash, Ribnichka Skala, Mal Korab, Radomirski Vrv and several other hard-to-pass peaks are particularly noticeable. In the highest part, above 2,000 m, the climate is alpine and includes elements of alpine flora. According to the opinion of a large number of scientists, Korab is the most beautiful mountain relief in Macedonia and beyond.
Rivers
A general feature of the Korab massif is the abundance of surface watercourses – rivers and streams that, after leaving the mountain area, flow into Radika and Crn Drim. They have rapid flows, alternating through canyons and valleys, often forming rapids and waterfalls. The biggest and most famous rivers are:
Ribnichka River (tributary of Radika)
Radomirska River (tributary of Crn Drim)
Shtirovica (tributary of Radika)
Dlaboka River (tributary of Ribnichka River)
Sherupska River (tributary of Radika)
Ciganska River (tributary of Ribnichka River)
Tairovska River (tributary of Zhirovnichka ) River)
Gabrovska Reka (tributary of Dlaboka Reka)
Ribnika Reka carries the largest amount of water from the slopes of Korab and after the diversion of the upper course of Radika for the needs of the Mavrov hydrosystem, its waters contribute the most to the maintenance of the Radika River in its middle and lower course. It springs at about 2,300 m above sea level between Derza and Gyganski Premin.
Dlaboka Reka has the highest source, which reaches up to 2,500 m above sea level. At the same time, its course together with Gabrovska Reka and other smaller tributaries is also the most attractive because it forms three canyons and numerous rapids and waterfalls.
Waterfalls
The Korap Waterfall of Dlaboka Reka
The Korap Waterfall of Dlaboka Reka or the Dlaboka Reka waterfall is the highest waterfall in Macedonia, and also in the Balkans with a height of over 130 meters (136 meters, if the height of the waterfall at the foot is also considered). It occurs on a vertical rock that is a continuation of the steep eastern side of Mal Korab peak. It was formed as a result of the outflow of a huge glacier that deepened the upper bed of Dlaboka Reka, cutting the rock in its path.
The waterfall can be clearly seen from a distance only in the spring months and early summer while the snow is melting, when the amount of water is greater. In winter it is completely frozen, and in the late summer months and the beginning of autumn it remains to be filled with the water from the several small springs that are located just below the Mal Korab peak and near the Malo Korap Lake – a quantity of water that, due to the great verticality, could it is noticeable only from a close distance, but not from a distance, where it looks as if it is dried up. Due to the inaccessible terrain and the short time interval in which it can be visited, very few people have the opportunity to see it in its full glory. The best time to visit is the month of June when the snow will not be a big obstacle to reach the waterfall.
In the upper course of the Dlaboka Reka, several lower waterfalls are found on its left side, which are formed by its tributaries springing from Kobilino Pole. But although less noticeable than the big waterfall, they have a larger amount of water and are especially attractive when viewed from the area of the Kabash and Ribnica Skala peaks, giving the impression that the entire Kobilino Pole is “draining” into the Dlaboka Reka.
Hidden in the upper canyon of Dlaboka Reka, in the narrowest part between the ridges of Ribnica Skala (on the right) and Shilo and Pirk (on the left), there is another impressive waterfall that is particularly difficult to reach due to the inaccessible terrain in the canyon itself , often obstructed by fallen avalanches. However, this waterfall surpasses all in the basin of Dlaboka Reka in terms of the amount of water and as a result, when it falls, it forms a “water pot” with great depth.
Waterfalls can also be found on other rivers and streams on the slopes of Korab, especially in the upper reaches of Ribnika Reka and Tsiganska Reka, as well as at the foot of Crn Kamen peak (Vrbijani), where the two occasional waterfalls of Obesenavoda can be seen, in close proximity to the regional road Mavrovi Anovi – Debar.
“Korap Lakes”.
On the Macedonian territory of Korab there are 8 permanent and a dozen occasional glacial lakes, while there are a slightly smaller number on the Albanian side. More famous of them are:
Big Korap Lake (2,500 m)
Chukino Lake (2,370 m)
Small Korap Lake (2,350 m)
Gypsy Lake (2,330 m)
Kobilino Lake (2,320 m)
Gorno Radomir Lake (2,160 m)
Silsko Lake (2,070 m)
Small Gram Lake (1,950) m)
Great Lake Gramsko (1,880 m)
Lake Bacilsko (1,870 m)
Lake Babino (1,820 m)
Dolno Radomir Lake (1,775 m)
Black Lake (1,490 m)
The most famous is of course the Great Korap Lake, which is located at 2,500 m above sea level immediately under the very top of Golem Korab, due to the fact that it is the highest glacial lake, as well as the highest water surface in Macedonia in general.
Lake Gram on the Albanian side is by far the largest. On that side, the lakes are much larger than on the Macedonian side, but those lakes lie at a lower altitude than those on the Macedonian side.
The greatest concentration of these remains from the former ice age is in the triangle between Shupliv Kamen, Babin Kamen and Visoko Brdo, as well as in Kobilino Pole, from which the tributaries of Ribnika Reka and Dlaboka Reka flow.