Lake Ohrid Is Retreating: Water Level Just Four Centimetres Above the October Average

On 5 October, Lake Ohrid stood at 693.35 metres above sea level, according to data from the Hydrometeorological Administration. That is just four centimetres above the long-term October average of 693.31 metres, and 25 centimetres above the permitted minimum of 693.10 metres.

On 2 October the lake was still five centimetres above average. The sharpest drop came between 11 and 13 August, when the water fell by ten centimetres in just two days. Since then the lake has kept retreating, slowly but steadily, and you can see it along the shoreline.

There is no reason to panic yet - the level is still above average. But four centimetres is not much of a cushion for a lake like Ohrid. Does anyone have a plan for the day that margin hits zero?