Editing Skopje (section)

=== 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>