Galičica (Macedonian: Галичица, Albanian: Mali i Thatë) is a mountain situated across the border between North Macedonia and Albania. North Macedonia's side of the mountain is designated as a national park, positioned between the country's two largest lakes: Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, covering an area of 227 square kilometres (88 sq mi). Rising to 2,265 metres above sea level, the mountain features varied terrain with steep slopes and significant elevational differences, creating diverse ecological zones dominated by forests and pastures.
Since the 1950s, the landscape has undergone notable transformations, with forested areas increasing from 40% to 58% by 2007, while pasturelands decreased from 50% to 24% due to changing human activities. The mountain harbours exceptional biodiversity, with 180 woody plant taxa (56% of North Macedonia's dendroflora) and distinctive grassland communities that support numerous rare and endemic species. Human influence varies across the mountain, with Lake Ohrid shoreline settlements transitioning from agriculture to tourism, while Prespa-side communities have experienced population decline and land abandonment. Galičica's unique position between two major lakes, its limestone geology, and modified Mediterranean climate have allowed it to function as a refugial area during glacial periods, contributing to its current biological richness and its role as an important biogeographical boundary for several plant species.
