Lake Prespa in the context of Tripoint

In classical and late antiquity, Illyria (/ɪˈlɪəriə/; Ancient Greek: Ἰλλυρία, Illyría or Ἰλλυρίς, Illyrís; Latin: Illyria, Illyricum) was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians.

The Ancient Greeks initially used the term Illyris to define approximately the area of northern and central Albania down to the Aoös valley (modern Vjosa) and the Bay of Vlorë, including in most periods much of the lakeland area (Ohrid and Prespa). It corresponded to the region that neighboured Macedonia and Epirus. In Roman times the terms Illyria, Illyris, or Illyricum were extended from the territory that was roughly located in the area of the south-eastern Adriatic coast (modern Albania and Montenegro) and its hinterland, to a broader region stretching between the whole eastern Adriatic and the Danube.

40°51′19″N 20°58′58″E / 40.855222°N 20.982750°E / 40.855222; 20.982750

Prespa (Macedonian: Преспа, Greek: Πρέσπα, Albanian: Prespë) is a region shared between North Macedonia, Greece and Albania. It shares the same name with the two Prespa lakes which are situated in the middle of the region. The largest town is Resen in North Macedonia with 9,000 inhabitants.

Pustec (Albanian: Pustec; Macedonian: Пустец) formerly known as Liqenas (1973–2013), is a village in Pustec Municipality, Korçë County, eastern Albania. Situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Prespa, it is home to much of the Macedonian minority in Albania.

Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Macedonian: Прекуграничен биосферен резерват „Охрид-Преспа“, romanized: Prekugraničen biosferen rezervat „Ohrid-Prespa“; Albanian: Oher – Prespe, Rezerve Ndërkufitare Biosfere) is a biosphere reserve encompassing the area of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, on North Macedonia and Albania.

The reserve was declared in June 2014 and comprises a combination of water bodies and surrounding mountain reliefs, covering an area of 446,244.52 hectares (1,722.96 sq mi).

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.

Resen (Macedonian: Ресен [ˈrɛːsɛn] ) is a town in southwestern North Macedonia, with just under 9,000 inhabitants. Resen is approximately equidistant between Bitola and Ohrid. The town rises 880 metres (2,887 feet) above sea level and is situated near Lake Prespa. Resen is the only town in the Prespa Lake area and is the seat of Resen Municipality.

Cangonj Pass (Albanian: Gryka e Cangonjit; Albanian pronunciation: [ɡɾyːka e t͡sanˈɡɔɲit]) is a mountain pass located in the village of Cangonj, Korçë County, southeastern Albania. It is located between Mount Moravë and Mount Ivan south of Lake Prespa, and connects the Korçë Plain in the west with the Poloskë-Bilisht plain in the east. Crossed by the Devoll, the mountain pass was formed through the millennia by the excavating process of the flow of this river.

In classical antiquity the name of the mountain pass was recorded as Tsangon, which was traditionally a border area between Macedon and Illyria, being part of an important east-west communication route.

Prespes (Greek: Πρέσπες) is a municipality in the Florina regional unit, Western Macedonia, Greece. Its population in 2021 was 1,211. The seat of the municipality is in Laimos. It was named after Lake Prespa, in the western part of the municipality.

Pustec Municipality (Albanian: Bashkia Pustec; Macedonian: Општина Пустец), previously known as Liqenas Commune (Albanian: Komuna Liqenas) from 1973 to 2013, is a municipality in the Korçë County of Albania. The population at the 2011 census was 3,290, in a total area of 243.6 km (94.1 sq mi). The municipality's flag features the Vergina Sun.

It consists of nine villages, comprising the areas along the Albanian, the southwestern shore of Lake Prespa. It is part of the so-called Mala Prespa area, which is home to a large part of the local ethnic Macedonian minority of Albania. Albanian and Macedonian are official languages of the municipality.

The Macedonians in Albania (Albanian: Maqedonasit në Shqipëri; Macedonian: Македонци во Албанија, romanized: Makedonci vo Albanija) are an officially recognized ethnic minority. According to the data from the census held in 2023, there are 2,281 ethnic Macedonians in Albania. According to the 2011 census, 5,512 ethnic Macedonians lived in Albania. In the 1989 census, 4,697 people had declared themselves Macedonian.

The condition of the Macedonian population living in the Prespa area is described in positive terms, and particular praise is given since all the villages of the area are allowed schooling in their mother tongue. Macedonian organizations allege that the government undercounts their number and that they are politically under-represented, arguing there are no Macedonians in the Albanian parliament, until Vasil Sterjovski was elected in 2019 representing the Macedonian Party. Past Helsinki reports stated, "Albania recognizes [...] a Macedonian minority, but only in the Southern regions. Those who identify as Macedonians [...] outside these minority regions are denied the minority rights granted in the south, including minority classes at state schools."

Zvezda or Zvezdë is a village in the municipality of Pojan, a subdivision of the municipality of Maliq, in the Korçë County of Albania. Located in south-east Albania, it is within close range of Lake Prespa, which is shared between Albania, North Macedonia and Greece.

Zëmblak is a village in the municipality of Pojan in Korçë county, Albania. Located in south-east Albania, it is within close range of Lake Prespa, which is shared between Albania, North Macedonia, and Greece.

Mala Prespa (Macedonian and Bulgarian: Мала Преспа, lit. 'Small Prespa') is a term used to denote a geographical area in eastern Albania, part of the wider region of Prespa. It is located on the western shore of Lake Prespa along the southeastern edge of Albania within the wider Korçë County and bordering the Pogradec and Devoll municipalities. The area is synonymous with Pustec Municipality.

It is officially recognised as a Macedonian minority zone. According to the 2011 Census, in Albania there are about 5,000 Macedonians, primarily in the Mala Prespa area, forming 97% of the population of the Pustec Municipality. This area also contains small numbers of Aromanians (Arvanito-Vlachs) and, according to Bulgarian sources, Bulgarians.