Struga – First Canoe Trip on Lake Ohrid

Tuesday, 23 June 2015 00:00
Written by Portal Editor

Struga – We launched our canoe right from the quay at the Rino campsite, which also features a shallow, pebbly swimming cove. A few steps built into the quay wall make getting in easier, though they are somewhat slippery due to the vegetation.

We began by paddling along a vast "field" of yellow water lilies, some of which were in bloom. Many aquatic plants—especially those in "still" waters like Lake Ohrid possess aerenchyma (air-filled tissue) that allows oxygen to reach their stems and roots.

This specialized aerenchyma makes the leaves buoyant, while the small stomata are restricted to the upper surface exposed to the air. The leaf surface is water-repellent and sometimes dirt-repellent thanks to a waxy coating, a phenomenon known as the "lotus effect."

The shoreline of Lake Ohrid which, incidentally, ranks among the oldest lakes on Earth in geological terms is fringed by vast reed beds. In the background lie the mountains of Galichica National Park, near Ohrid.

Lake Ohrid sits at an elevation of approximately 700 meters above sea level and reaches a maximum depth of 278 meters. The town of Struga is visible in the background of the image.

The water quality is excellent; it is no wonder, then, that there is so much "life" in and around the water. Early in the morning, we spotted two water snakes making their way toward the nearest reed bed.

These extensive reed beds provide excellent breeding and hunting grounds for many waterfowl; we frequently observed cormorants hunting there. Here is the abandoned nest of a reed warbler nestled in the reeds; it is attached to towering stalks by artful, flexible loops, allowing it to sway with the movement caused by wind and waves.

Here are the stumps of tree trunks that may once have supported a jetty extending into Lake Ohrid or perhaps a platform for hunters amidst the dense shoreline reeds.