Lake Prespa UPSC
Prespa is one of the biggest Cross border Lakes shared between North Macedonia, Albania, and Greece. With beautiful landscapes, wide bio-diversity and ecological significance, it is an important area for UPSC preparation in geography and environment. Here is a detailed guide to Lake Prespa with several points that are followed in the analysis.
Where is Lake Prespa Located?
Lake Prespa is a freshwater lake located in the Balkan Peninsula, part of Albania, Greece and North Macedonia. It comprises two different water bodies—Great Prespa Lake and the Little Prespa Lake which are divided by an Isthmus. Great Prespa Lake covers all three states whereas Little Prespa Lake is mostly located at Greece .
In particular, the mentioned Lake Prespa is the highest tectonic lake in the Balkans, located on the altitude of 853 meters above the sea level.
Is Lake Prespa Worth Visiting?
Absolutely! Lake Prespa is a treasure trove for nature enthusiasts. Its tranquil atmosphere, rich biodiversity, and scenic surroundings make it an ideal destination for:
- Nature lovers seeking to experience unspoiled beauty.
- Bird watchers interested in spotting rare and migratory species.
- Eco-tourists eager to explore one of Europe’s ancient tectonic lakes.
They come with the intention of enjoying the cleanness of the water bodies, the natural and the natural balanced habitats, hike, and watch wildlife.
Why is Lake Prespa in the News?
Lake Prespa has recently gained attention due to environmental concerns:
- Deterioration of the Lake:
- Parts of the Lake Prespa have been identified either to be dry or to have been turned to swamps.
- The shifting of the population has impacted geographically the African ecosystems, the water quality and people who directly depend on fishing, farming or even tourism.
- Climate Change Impacts:
- With increase in temperatures, the rate of water evaporation is also known to be high.
- The new pattern of snowmelt in losers and general precipitation hampers reindeer and natural regeneration.
- Human-Induced Water Loss:
- Diversion of the Devoll River in the 1970s for irrigation deprived the lake of a crucial water source.
- Mismanagement of water resources has exacerbated the lake’s decline, highlighting the need for better regional cooperation.
Little Prespa Lake Map
Little Prespa Lake which is located mostly in Greece it is easy to locate on greater regional maps or on such as Google maps. This is because it is located close to Great Prespa Lake and the location of the site cover a distinct geological feature.
Little Prespa Lake Fishing
Current fishing activities in Little Prespa Lake have reduced because the lake is no longer as large as it once was, and the water is now polluted. Fishing is the other activity which has suffered lots of setbacks as a result of the environmental issues making it less feasible in the recent past.
Prespa National Park
Prespa National Park is an area having the lake at it’s center and it is famous for its biological significance as well as the beauty of the landscape. It has provided support for numerous rare and endemic forms of fauna thus is important in the support of the regional conservation.
Prespa Lake Depth
With a maximum depth of 54 meters (177 feet), the Great Prespa Lake is categorized as one of the deeper pre coal databases.
How Old is Ohrid Lake?
The next lake, Ohrid Lake is also in Near East and bordered with Lake Prespa; according to the geological studies, it is as old as 3 to 5 million years. Due to its advanced age and special geographical locales it has been deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Ohrid Lake Depth
Contrary to Lake Prespa, Ohrid Lake has the maximum depth of 288 meters (945 feet).
Dojran Lake Depth
Another famous Balkan Peninsula lake is the Dojran Lake which is stranded at a maximum of 10 meters deep. Though it is not as deep as Prespa or Ohrid, it has both, the ecological and strategic value.
Conclusion
Due to these environmental, cultural and geographical values, Lake Prespa is a very important area of study for the UPSC aspirant. Knowledge about its location, the biota, problems, and interlinking with other preserved Balkan lakes such as Ohrid and Dojran contributes to the realisation of the peninsula’s geography.