Struga, a small town 15 km (9 m) from Ohrid, straddles the northern tip of the lake and is a captivating destination in its own right. Situated near the famous Roman Via Egnatia, Struga was known in antiquity by the name of Ehalon, meaning ‘eel.’
One of the most remarkable tales from Ohrid lore is about this slippery creature. Following its mystifying internal intuition, the Ohrid Eel travels thousands of kilometers from its birthplace in the Sargasso Sea, through the Mediterranean, and up through the Crn Drim River that empties into Lake Ohrid. After lurking about for years in the murky depths of the lake, the eel suddenly gets the desire to consummate its life’s mission- by returning to the distant Caribbean, where it mates and dies.
If there is something poetic about the sad fate of the eccentric Ohrid eel, then Struga is the right place for contemplating it. Long venerated by Macedonians as a place of literary inspiration, Struga is the site each year of an International Festival of Poetry dedicated to the memory of the 19th century poet Konstantin Miladinov. He captured the area’s beauty and place in the Macedonian heart in his poem, “Longing for the South:”
If there is something poetic about the sad fate of the eccentric Ohrid eel, then Struga is the right place for contemplating it. Long venerated by Macedonians as a place of literary inspiration, Struga is the site each year of an International Festival of Poetry dedicated to the memory of the 19th century poet Konstantin Miladinov. He captured the area’s beauty and place in the Macedonian heart in his poem, “Longing for the South:”Struga today is a popular summer getaway, interspersed with alleyways
and shops where products are still crafted by hand. The town has many churches, the oldest dating from the 12th century, and wood-frame houses characteristic of 18th and 19th century Macedonian architecture.
Macedonia’s scuba diving association is also based in Struga, where the River Crn Drin rushes out of Lake Ohrid and northwards to Debar. Between the two towns can be found numerous traditional villages set amongst lush wooded hills.
and shops where products are still crafted by hand. The town has many churches, the oldest dating from the 12th century, and wood-frame houses characteristic of 18th and 19th century Macedonian architecture.Macedonia’s scuba diving association is also based in Struga, where the River Crn Drin rushes out of Lake Ohrid and northwards to Debar. Between the two towns can be found numerous traditional villages set amongst lush wooded hills.
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