Study of the Prespa-Ohrid lake system using tracer experiments and the lake's water balance

Abstract

The Prespa-Ohrid lake system is shared between Greece, Republic of Macedonia (FYRO) and Albania. In recent years a water decrease in the Prespa Lake has been recorded. Though it has been established that the water from the Prespa Lake flows into the Ohrid Lake through the Galichica mountain, it is not clear whether this is the main reason for the lake's water loss in recent years. The three main reasons behind the lake's water loss investigated are: (i) underground flow from Prespa to Ohrid Lake, change in weather pattern, anthropogenic factors. Though there were several studies investigating the water level decrease in the lake, so far no conclusion on the reasons behind this phenomenon has been reached. As part of an ongoing research project supported by the NATO Science for Peace (SfP) programme the problem of water loss in the lake has been investigated. Some of the results of this study are presented. © 2009 WIT Press.