Editing Skopje (section)

== Geography ==

=== Topography ===

Skopje is in the north of the country, in the centre of the [[Balkan peninsula]], and approximately halfway between Belgrade and [[Athens]]. The city was built in the [[Skopje Valley]], oriented on a west–east axis, along the course of the [[Vardar]] river, which flows into the [[Aegean Sea]] in Greece. The valley is approximately {{cvt|20|km|abbr=off}} wide<ref name="tourism">{{cite web |url=http://www.macedoniatourism.gov.mk/freeTime.aspx?q=uKZfRLQMSvIy7ig7VCbGlw==#&&hp=L75tfs0nVNv%2bI7mU8aucLg%3d%3d |title=Nature of the region of Skopje |publisher=Tourist office of Macedonia |year=2009 |access-date=26 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914052819/http://www.macedoniatourism.gov.mk/freeTime.aspx?q=uKZfRLQMSvIy7ig7VCbGlw==#&&hp=L75tfs0nVNv%2bI7mU8aucLg%3d%3d |archive-date=14 September 2011}}</ref> and it is limited by several mountain ranges to the north and south. These ranges limit the urban expansion of Skopje, which spreads along the Vardar and the {{Interlanguage link|Serava|lt=Serava|mk|Серава|sr|Серава}}, a small river which comes from the north. In its administrative boundaries, the City of Skopje stretches for more than {{cvt|33|km|abbr=off}},<ref name="transports">{{cite web |title=Traffic and transport projects |url=http://www.transpower-rp6.org/uploads/media/Skopje_Actual__Traffic_Projects_01.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613112034/http://www.transpower-rp6.org/uploads/media/Skopje_Actual__Traffic_Projects_01.pdf/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 June 2018 |publisher=City of Skopje |year=2008 |access-date=26 February 2011}}</ref> but it is only {{cvt|10|km|abbr=off}} wide.<ref name="figures">{{cite web |title=Figures |url=http://www.skopje.gov.mk/EN/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=33 |publisher=City of Skopje |year=2009 |access-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721162550/http://www.skopje.gov.mk/EN/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=33 |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Skopje is approximately 245 m above sea level and covers 571.46&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name="drisla"/> The urbanised area only covers 337&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, with a density of 65 inhabitants per hectare.<ref name="nature">{{cite web |url=http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |title=The Study on Wastewater Management in Skopje in the Republic of Macedonia |publisher=Tokyo Engineering Consultants |year=2008 |access-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115085154/http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |archive-date=15 November 2012}}</ref> Skopje, in its administrative limits, encompasses many villages and other settlements, including [[Dračevo, Skopje|Dračevo]], [[Gorno Nerezi]] and Bardovci. According to the 2021 census, the City of Skopje had 526,502 inhabitants.<ref name="stats2"/><ref name="meta">{{cite web |title=Census 2021: North Macedonia with 1 836 713 citizens, out of whom 526 502 live in Skopje |url=https://meta.mk/en/census-2021-north-macedonia-with-1-836-713-citizens-out-of-whom-526-502-live-in-skopje/ |website=Meta.mk |date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

The City of Skopje reaches the [[Kosovo]] border to the north-east. Clockwise, it is also bordered by the municipalities of [[Čučer-Sandevo Municipality|Čučer-Sandevo]], [[Lipkovo Municipality|Lipkovo]], [[Aračinovo Municipality|Aračinovo]], [[Ilinden Municipality|Ilinden]], [[Studeničani Municipality|Studeničani]], [[Sopište Municipality|Sopište]], [[Želino Municipality|Želino]] and [[Jegunovce Municipality|Jegunovce]].

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Map City of Skopje en.svg|The City of Skopje; its administrative limits are in red.
File:MIHPM(Skopje).png|Location of Skopje in North Macedonia
File:Wildflowers of Bardovci12.jpg|Landscape of the Skopje valley, near Bardovci
</gallery>

=== Hydrography ===

The [[Vardar]] river, which flows through Skopje, is at approximately {{cvt|60|km|abbr=off}} from its source near [[Gostivar]]. In Skopje, its average discharge is 51 m<sup>3</sup>/s, with a wide amplitude depending on seasons, between 99.6 m<sup>3</sup>/s in May and 18.7 m<sup>3</sup>/s in July. The water temperature is between 4.6&nbsp;°C in January and 18.1&nbsp;°C in July.<ref name="vardar">{{cite web |url=http://www.kuke.com.pl/download.php?id=9 |title=Combined Cycle Co-Generation Power Plant Project, Skopje, Environmental Assessment Report |publisher=TE-TO AD SKOPJE |year=2006 |access-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816180417/http://www.kuke.com.pl/download.php?id=9 |archive-date=16 August 2009}}</ref>

Several rivers meet the Vardar within the city boundaries. The largest is the [[Treska]], which is {{cvt|130|km|abbr=off}} long. It crosses the [[Matka Canyon]] before reaching the Vardar on the western extremity of the City of Skopje. The [[Lepenac]], coming from [[Kosovo]], flows into the Vardar on the north-western end of the urban area. The Serava, also coming from the north, had flowed through the [[Old Bazaar, Skopje|Old Bazaar]] until the 1960s when it was diverted towards the west because its waters were very polluted. Originally, it met the Vardar close to the seat of the [[Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts]]. Nowadays, it flows into the Vardar near the ruins of [[Scupi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://star.vest.com.mk/default.asp?id=40399&idg=3&idb=604&rubrika=Revija |title=Одмаздата на Серава |year=2001 |publisher=Vest |author=Risto Ḱorstošev |access-date=6 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061721/http://star.vest.com.mk/default.asp?id=40399&idg=3&idb=604&rubrika=Revija |archive-date=23 October 2013}}</ref> [[Markova Reka]], which originates in Mount [[Vodno]], meets the Vardar at the eastern extremity of the city. These three rivers are less than {{cvt|70|km|abbr=off}} long.<ref name="figures"/>

The City of Skopje incorporates two artificial lakes, on the Treska. [[Lake Matka]] is the result of the construction of a dam in [[Matka Canyon]] in the 1930s, and the Treska Lake was dug for leisurely purposes in 1978.<ref name="figures"/> Three small natural lakes can be found near [[Smilkovci]], on the north-eastern edge of the urban area.

The river Vardar historically caused many floods, such as in 1962, when its outflow reached 1110 m<sup>3</sup>/s<sup>−1</sup>.<ref name="vardar"/> Several works have been carried out since Byzantine times to limit the risks, and since the construction of the [[Kozjak Hydro Power Plant|Kozjak dam]] on the Treska in 1994, the flood risk is close to zero.<ref name="kozjak">{{cite web |url=http://www.jasen.com.mk/Default.aspx?id=1703cd5c-b351-44f8-a60d-8108b7a76e5a |title=Lake Kozjak |author=Jasen |year=2010 |publisher=Government of the Republic of Macedonia |access-date=27 February 2011}}</ref>

The subsoil contains a large [[water table]] which is alimented by the Vardar and functions as an underground river. Under the table lies an [[aquifer]] contained in [[marl]]. The water table is 4 to 12 m under the ground and 4 to 144 m deep. Several wells collect its waters but most of the drinking water used in Skopje comes from a [[karstic]] spring in [[Rašče]], west of the city.<ref name="nature"/>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Saraj swimming pool.jpg|The Treska Lake
File:Skopje X31.jpg|The [[Vardar]] and the [[Stone Bridge (Skopje)|Stone Bridge]], symbol of the city
File:Del od Skopje, 1950ti.jpg|The main river running through the centre of Skopje, {{Circa|1950}}
File:Serava.jpg|The Serava north of the city
</gallery>

=== Geology ===

The Skopje valley is bordered on the west by the [[Šar Mountains]], on the South by the [[Jakupica]] range, on the east by hills belonging to the [[Osogovo]] range, and on the north by the [[Skopska Crna Gora]]. Mount [[Vodno]], the highest point inside the city limits, is 1066 m high and is part of the [[Jakupica]] range.<ref name="figures"/>

Although Skopje is built on the foot of Mount Vodno, the urban area is mostly flat. It comprises several minor hills, generally covered with woods and parks, such as Gazi Baba hill (325 m), Zajčev Rid (327 m), the foothills of Mount Vodno (the smallest are between 350 and 400 m high) and the promontory on which [[Skopje Fortress]] is built.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.build.mk/docs/GUP-Transport.jpg |title=GUP Transport |publisher=Build.mk |access-date=6 October 2012}}</ref>

The Skopje valley is near a seismic fault between the African and Eurasian [[tectonic plate]]s and experiences regular seismic activity.<ref name="damages">{{cite web |url=http://www.meseisforum.net/1963_skopje.pdf |title=Damaging Effects of July 26, 1963 Skopje Earthquake |author=Jakim T. Petrovski |publisher=Meseisforum |access-date=27 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401004715/http://www.meseisforum.net/1963_skopje.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This activity in enhanced by the porous structure of the subsoil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rad2012.elfak.rs/pdf/presentations/StojanovskaRAD2012.ppt |title=Annual and sesonnal variations of indoor radon concentration in Skopje (Republic of Macedonia), Zdenka Stojanovska, Faculty of Electronic Engeeniring, Nis, Serbia, 2012 |access-date=14 December 2014 |archive-date=26 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226230957/http://www.rad2012.elfak.rs/pdf/presentations/StojanovskaRAD2012.ppt |url-status=dead }}</ref> Large earthquakes occurred in Skopje in 518, 1555 and 1963.<ref name="damages"/>

The Skopje valley belongs to the Vardar geotectonic region, the subsoil of which is formed of [[Neogene]] and [[Quaternary]] deposits. The substratum is made of [[Pliocene]] deposits including [[sandstone]], [[marl]], and various conglomerates. It is covered by a first layer of Quaternary sands and silt, which is between 70 and 90 m deep. The layer is topped by a much smaller layer of clay, sand, silt, and gravel, carried by the [[Vardar]] river. It is between 1.5 and 5.2 m deep.<ref name="ohis">{{cite web |url=http://ozoneunit.gov.mk/pops/Ohis.pdf |title=Macedonian Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning, OHIS Site Remediation Project Conceptual Design, 2010 |website=ozoneunit.gov.mk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140428174642/http://ozoneunit.gov.mk/pops/Ohis.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2014}}</ref>

In some areas, the subsoil is [[karst]]ic. It led to the formation of canyons, such as the [[Matka Canyon]], which is surrounded by ten caves. They are between 20 and 176 m deep.<ref name="macedonia.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.macedonia.co.uk/client/index1.aspx?idp=modules&page=426 |title=Matka Canyon |website=macedonia.co.uk |access-date=14 December 2014 |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509053121/http://www.macedonia.co.uk/client/index1.aspx?idp=modules&page=426 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Skopje-pano.JPG|Mount [[Vodno]] in the background overlooking Skopje
File:Matka2.jpg|The [[Matka Canyon]] on the western edge of the City of Skopje
File:Cave lake (8172274819).jpg|A cave at the [[Matka Canyon]]
</gallery>

=== Climate ===

Skopje has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfa''), bordering on a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dfa'')<ref>Baba, A.; Tayfur, G.; Gündüz, O.; Howard, K.W.F.; Friedel, M.J.; Chambel, A: "Climate Change and its Effects on Water Resources: Issues of National and Global Security". NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security. Springer. 2011, XVI, 318p. {{ISBN|978-9400711457}}.</ref><ref>Klement Bergant: "{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224907/http://www.seeclimateforum.org/upload/document/climate_change_scenarios_for_macedonia.pdf Climate Change Scenario for Macedonia: Summary]}}". University of Nova Gorca, Centre for Atmospheric Research. September 2006.</ref> with a mean annual temperature of {{cvt|12.6|°C|0}}. Precipitation is relatively low due to the pronounced [[rain shadow]] of the [[Accursed Mountains]] to the north-west, being significantly less than what is received on the Adriatic Sea coast at the same latitude. The summers are long, hot and relatively dry with low [[humidity]]. Skopje's average July high is {{cvt|32|°C|0}}. On average Skopje experiences 88 days above {{cvt|30|°C|0}} each year, and 10.2 days above {{cvt|35.0|°C|0}} every year.

Winters are short, relatively cold and wet. Snowfall is common in the winter period, but heavy snow accumulation is rare and the snowcover lasts only for a few hours or a few days if heavy. In summer, temperatures are usually above {{cvt|31|°C|0}} and sometimes above {{cvt|40|°C|0}}. In spring and autumn, the temperatures range from {{cvt|15|to|24|C|F|0}}. In winter, the day temperatures are roughly in the range from {{cvt|5-10|°C|0}}, but at nights they often fall below {{cvt|0|°C|0}} and sometimes below {{cvt|-10|°C|0}}. Typically, temperatures throughout one year range from −13&nbsp;°C to 39&nbsp;°C. Occurrences of precipitation are evenly distributed throughout the year, being heaviest from October to December, and from April to June.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Skopje International Airport (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1949−present)
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 19.6
| Feb record high C = 24.6
| Mar record high C = 34.2
| Apr record high C = 35.0
| May record high C = 35.8
| Jun record high C = 41.1
| Jul record high C = 42.8
| Aug record high C = 43.2
| Sep record high C = 38.2
| Oct record high C = 33.9
| Nov record high C = 28.2
| Dec record high C = 22.1
| year record high C = 43.2
| Jan high C = 4.8
| Feb high C = 9.0
| Mar high C = 14.5
| Apr high C = 19.4
| May high C = 24.4
| Jun high C = 29.2
| Jul high C = 32.0
| Aug high C = 32.3
| Sep high C = 26.7
| Oct high C = 20.1
| Nov high C = 12.5
| Dec high C = 5.9
| Jan mean C = 0.2
| Feb mean C = 3.0
| Mar mean C = 7.7
| Apr mean C = 12.4
| May mean C = 17.2
| Jun mean C = 21.7
| Jul mean C = 24.1
| Aug mean C = 24.1
| Sep mean C = 19.0
| Oct mean C = 13.1
| Nov mean C = 6.9
| Dec mean C = 1.8
| Jan low C = -3.3
| Feb low C = -1.6
| Mar low C = 1.9
| Apr low C = 5.7
| May low C = 10.3
| Jun low C = 14.3
| Jul low C = 16.3
| Aug low C = 16.2
| Sep low C = 12.2
| Oct low C = 7.6
| Nov low C = 2.8
| Dec low C = -1.4
| Jan record low C = -25.6
| Feb record low C = -22.0
| Mar record low C = -19.0
| Apr record low C = -6.0
| May record low C = -1.6
| Jun record low C = 3.2
| Jul record low C = 5.8
| Aug record low C = 4.3
| Sep record low C = -2.3
| Oct record low C = -6.4
| Nov record low C = -12.2
| Dec record low C = -22.9
| year record low C = -25.6
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 30
| Feb precipitation mm = 29
| Mar precipitation mm = 38
| Apr precipitation mm = 40
| May precipitation mm = 43
| Jun precipitation mm = 54
| Jul precipitation mm = 38
| Aug precipitation mm = 36
| Sep precipitation mm = 34
| Oct precipitation mm = 49
| Nov precipitation mm = 45
| Dec precipitation mm = 48
| year precipitation mm = 483
| Jan humidity = 83
| Feb humidity = 75
| Mar humidity = 68
| Apr humidity = 66
| May humidity = 66
| Jun humidity = 61
| Jul humidity = 56
| Aug humidity = 56
| Sep humidity = 63
| Oct humidity = 74
| Nov humidity = 82
| Dec humidity = 85
| year humidity = 70
| Jan precipitation days = 10
| Feb precipitation days = 9
| Mar precipitation days = 10
| Apr precipitation days = 10
| May precipitation days = 11
| Jun precipitation days = 10
| Jul precipitation days = 7
| Aug precipitation days = 6
| Sep precipitation days = 6
| Oct precipitation days = 7
| Nov precipitation days = 9
| Dec precipitation days = 11
| Jan snow days = 5
| Feb snow days = 5
| Mar snow days = 3
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0.1
| Nov snow days = 2
| Dec snow days = 5
| year snow days = 20
| Jan sun = 86.9
| Feb sun = 112.5
| Mar sun = 161.1
| Apr sun = 198.4
| May sun = 245.2
| Jun sun = 276.3
| Jul sun = 323.0
| Aug sun = 305.4
| Sep sun = 247.5
| Oct sun = 188.2
| Nov sun = 114.8
| Dec sun = 79.6
| year sun = 2339
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (precipitation days)<ref name=WMO>{{cite web |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/090/c00199.htm |title=World Weather Information Service – Skopje |publisher=World Meteorological Organization |access-date=11 November 2012 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731213214/http://worldweather.wmo.int/090/c00199.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| source 2 = [[NOAA]] (sun, 1961–1990),<ref name=HKO>{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/MC/13591.TXT |title=Climatological Information for Skopje, Macedonia |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=10 December 2013}}</ref> UHMR (extremes, 1951−present)<ref name=uhmr>{{cite web
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240928024955/http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/europa/macedonia-del-nord/skopje-petrovec/
|archive-date = 28 September 2024
|url = http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/europa/macedonia-del-nord/skopje-petrovec/
|title = Skopje Petrovec
|access-date = 28 September 2024
|publisher = {{ill|National Hydrological and Meteorological Services|mk|Управа за хидрометеоролошки работи}}
|language = it}}</ref>
| source = 
}}

=== Environment ===
The City of Skopje encompasses various natural environments, having diverse [[fauna]] and [[flora]]. However, it is threatened by the intensification of agriculture and urban extension. The largest protected area within the city limits is Mount Vodno, which is a popular leisure destination. A cable car connects its peak to the downtown, and many pedestrian paths run through its woods. Other large natural spots include the [[Matka Canyon]].<ref name="nature"/>

The city itself comprises several parks and gardens amounting to 4,361 hectares. Amongst these are the {{Interlanguage link|City Park (Skopje)|lt=City Park|mk|Градски парк (Скопје)}}, built by the Ottoman Turks at the beginning of the 20th century; Žena Borec Park, in front of the Parliament; the university arboretum; and the Gazi Baba forest. Many streets and boulevards are planted with trees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |title=Градско Зеленило |publisher=Паркови и Зеленило |access-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115085154/http://www.parkovi.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=585010091E61F94A93252F30545D68B9 |archive-date=15 November 2012}}</ref>

Steel processing—a crucial activity for the local economy—is responsible for [[soil pollution]] with heavy metals such as [[lead]], [[zinc]] and [[cadmium]], and [[air pollution]] with [[nitrogen oxide]] and [[carbon monoxide]].<ref name="nature"/> Vehicle traffic and [[district heating]] plants are also responsible for air pollution.

Water treatment plants are being built, but much of the polluted water is still being discharged untreated into the [[Vardar]].<ref name="nature"/> Waste is disposed of in the open-air municipal landfill site, {{cvt|15|km|abbr=off}} north of the city. Every day, it receives 1,500 m<sup>3</sup> of domestic waste and 400 m<sup>3</sup> of industrial waste. Health levels are better in Skopje than in the rest of North Macedonia, and no link has been found between the low environmental quality and the health of the residents.<ref name="security">{{cite web |url=http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/undp/hdr/2001/macedonia-e.pdf |title=National Report on Human Development |year=2001 |publisher=UNDR |access-date=13 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226090232/http://www.arab-hdr.org/publications/other/undp/hdr/2001/macedonia-e.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2013}}</ref>
{{wide image|Skopje panorama 2.jpg|1000px|alt=|A panoramic view of Skopje as seen from Mount Vodno.}}