Municipality of Dojran

Dojran exists because a shallow tectonic lake straddling the Greek border created a fishing economy unlike anywhere else in Macedonia. Lake Dojran—43.1 square kilometers, maximum depth 10 meters—is a remnant of the Pliocene Peony Lake, with 64% in Macedonian territory and 36% in Greece. This municipality of approximately 3,400 residents across 13 settlements lives where Mediterranean climate penetrates furthest into the Balkans, keeping average water temperatures at 15-18°C.

The formation era established a unique fishing tradition: the mandras. These reed fences channel fish toward birds that help in the catch—one of few places globally where such cooperative hunting persists. World War I devastated the city through bombardment, forcing population evacuation and subsequent resettlement in Nov Dojran. The fishing business that defined local identity had to be rebuilt from destruction.

Today Dojran operates primarily through tourism and hospitality, supplemented by traditional fishing and textile manufacturing. Seven hotels, 11 restaurants, 40 coastal accommodation facilities, modern casinos, and over 600 weekend cottages serve visitors drawn by the lake and Mediterranean microclimate. In April 2011, Lake Dojran and its coastline received legal protection as a monument of nature, with the municipality designated as managing authority. After stagnation in the late 20th century when lake levels dropped 10 meters, a new pipeline system restored water levels and tourist flows.

By 2026, Dojran's trajectory depends on sustainable tourism development that preserves the lake ecosystem supporting both visitor appeal and traditional mandras fishing. The Greek border proximity positions the municipality for cross-border tourism integration as EU relations develop.