L O C A L   B E A T

This is the beginning to the book entitled Golem Grad, prepared by the Macedonian Journalist's Environmental Center and the Macedonian Society of Ecologists. The island of Golem Grad (or Big Town in Macedonian) is located in the Macedonian part of Prespa Lake, near the borders of Albania and Greece. Legend has it that Golem Grad, originally a rich merchant centre connected to the mainland, was later cut off by floods in Roman times.

The only island in FYR Macedonia, it used to be very close to people's hearts, as is evident from the memories of village elders on the coast Ñ boating to the island for picnics, collecting berries or juniper branches for basket-weaving, building cottages or celebrating St. Petar's Day.

Golem Grad is also a Mediterranean oasis on the continent. The Mediterranean influence comes through Greece and modifies winter temperatures, making it famous as a kingdom of fungi and a refuge for rare plants, including the glabrous nettle, the webbi almond, Wulfren's spurge and other plants typical for the Mediterranean. In its wild juniper forests which dominate the island, ivy competes with ephedras next to huge, milk-white blossums of the wild white lily. Wild fauna also abounds on the island with water snakes, lizards, turtles, pelicans and cormorants.

Remains from the Hellenic and early Christian period show ancient and medieval rich local occupants. Frescoes painted in the 14th century adorn the walls of the island's only remaining building, St Petar's church. But neglect toward the island can be seen in the faces of the saints whose eyes are carved out. Valuable archaeological findings and rare flora and fauna have also been stolen.

Golem Grad is part of the Galichica National Park which includes FYR Macedonia's biggest tourist site, beautiful Ohrid Lake. But Golem is not protected by any special legislation or security service and park authorities receive no financing from the state.

The book, Golem Grad, is part of a campaign by the Macedonian Journalists' Environmental Center to protect the island and to lobby the government for enacting special legislation for the island. The campaigners hope that people will return to the island, but only within the frame of eco-tourism. That way, Golem Grad could remain, as it is now, wonderful and wild.