Project’s description
Young people from Rostuse want to promote and make accessible Lake Lokuv on the mountain Desat. Road-signs, wooden tables and a pedestrian track are being constructed in the vicinity of this relict from the glacial era. The Project “Landscaping the Tourist and Recreational Centre – Glacier Lake Lokuv on Mountain Desat” is a joint action of the Youth Environmental Centre “Rekanski Biser” from Rostuse, and the Women’s Association “Radika” from Skopje. They will develop promotional leaflets so that the inhabitants from Rostuse, Trebiste, Velebrdo, Bituse and the neighbouring villages will be able to invite the citizens of Macedonia to the final event presenting the lake “Mountain Eye”, as well as the other natural values, and their own cultural heritage: folk songs and dances, local specialties and handicrafts.

Location
Mountain Desat, municipality of Rostuse, Western Macedonia

Contact:
Hamlet Ahmeti
Youth Environmental Centre “Rekanski Biser”,
Village Rostuse 1254
Tel. 042/470-170; 070/241-806
rostuse@mladi.gov.mk

Rejhan Durmisi
Neighborhood unit Velebrdo
Tel. 070/241-806

Antica Kalkova
Women’s Organization “Radika”, Skopje
Tel. 070/986-991
ozradika@mt.net.mk

About Lake Lokuv and Mountain Desat:
Lake Lokuv is one of the glacier lakes on Mountain Desat. Its altitude is 1000 meters and it is the lowest glacier lake in the Republic of Macedonia. The beauty and the natural values of Mountain Desat in the region Dolna Reka are one of the potentials for development of rural, mountain and alternative tourism, together with the numerous cultural and traditional values and particularities. The region has ample vegetation and beautiful natural landscapes. In the immediate vicinity of the lake there are three sheepfolds where good quality cheese and other diary products.

How to reach Rostuse:
The municipality of Rostuse is located in the Western part of the Republic of Macedonia, about 120 kilometers from Skopje. You can get there by car from the motorway Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar and the regional road Mavrovo-Rostuse, or by taking the regular bus service or private transportation from the region. The whole territory of the municipality of Rostuse is part of the national park “Mavrovo”.

Local particularities
The municipality of Rostuse offers beautiful, multinational and multicultural traditional heritage. The population from different ethnic and religious backgrounds cherishes its traditions and customs, which makes this region especially attractive and interesting for the guests. For this region, the celebrations of the Muslim holidays Ramazan and Kurban, and the Orthodox Epiphany and Easter, are particularities. The Reka region is known for its special weddings and circumcisions, especially the wedding dishes, which at the same time are part of the Reka traditional cuisine (Bajram meat, corn pie, Reka palenta, baklava, alanditi-valangii, Reka milk, cheese and yellow cheese).

What Do the Surroundings Offer?
Take a walk along the beautiful river Radika and treat yourself to the well-known Radika trout. Visit the waterfalls Duv, Lokuv Lake, Galicnik and the beautiful Mijak villages, Mountain Bistra, Desat and the magnificent mountain huts. You can be a guest of the beautiful traditional weddings during the summer period. This region can offer all these, as well as the organically grown food, the clean air and water, sport terrains, mountain excursions, visits to the cave Alilica and other, the monastery “St. Jovan Bigorski” and many other unique experiences. You can also see many wild animals in the region, such as wild goats and deer, lynxes, foxes, bears and other species.