Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of: Background & Geography

Introduction Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Background:
 International recognition of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (F.Y.R.O.M.) independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995, and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, despite continued disagreement over F.Y.R.O.M.'s use of "Macedonia." F.Y.R.O.M.'s large Albanian minority, an ethnic Albanian armed insurgency in F.Y.R.O.M. in 2001, and the status of neighboring Kosovo continue to be sources of ethnic tension.
Geography Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Location:
 Southeastern Europe, north of Greece
Geographic coordinates:
 41 50 N, 22 00 E
Map references:
 Europe
Area:
 total: 25,333 sq km
water: 477 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
Area - comparative:
 slightly larger than Vermont
Land boundaries:
 total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km
Coastline:
 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
 none (landlocked)
Climate:
 warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall
Terrain:
 mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River
Elevation extremes:
 lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,753 m
Natural resources:
 low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land
Land use:
 arable land: 23.59%
permanent crops: 1.85%
other: 74.56% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
 550 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
 high seismic risks
Environment - current issues:
 air pollution from metallurgical plants
Environment - international agreements:
 party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
 landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

See Also: