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Dragon Lake Traditional Cache

Hidden : 6/27/2013
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:


Dragon Lake

The eastern part of Macedonia is geocachers’ TERRA INCOGNITA! Let's explore this part of the country, blessed by God with natural beauty, diversity of landscapes, hospitable people and warm sun.


Water means life, and in Eastern Macedonia the life bringing river is Bregalnica. Bregalnica is the second largest river (225 km) in the Republic of Macedonia. It starts as a spring in Maleshevo mountains near the city of Berovo. It flows through Maleshevo region and near the cities of Delchevo, Makedonska Kamenica, Kochani, Vinica and Štip, before joining the river Vardar on its way to the Aegean Sea. Some call it “Nectar of Maleshevo”, carrying the sweet essence of this region. This River along its picturesque path fills Berovo and Kalimanci Lake, irrigates rice fields, gives fish and supports diversity of animal and plant wealth. The hunt after caches along this river will reveal to you many interesting places in this part of Macedonia.

The Dragon Lake from Google Earth



About this cache:This cache will introduce you to a lake, which shape is quite interesting and reminds on scary Dragon. There fore I called it Dragon Lake. Dragon Lake in “civil” life is called Kalimanci Lake, after the village Kalimanci. This lake is filled with waters of Bregalnica River and few smaller rivers and creeks. The lake is a keeper of remnants of an ancient Roman city. Also the area around the lake has its own stories and secrets to be discover. Let’s try to reveal some of them!


On the shore of Dragon Lake



The Dragon (Kalimanci) Lake has a length of 14 km, width of 0.3 km and reaches a maximum depth of 80 meters. The basic purpose of the lake is to irrigate about 28,000 hectares, mainly rice fields in Kochani valley, but also a part of arable soil of Ovche Pole. There are two channels, the right is 98 km long and carries water to Ovche Pole, and the left is 36 km long and irrigates Kochani Field. The dam is a clay-core stone embankment, 92 m high and 240 m long.


View from the cache: Dragon's Loch Ness?



Dragon lake has its island too, called Kalata. Kalata is an abbreviation of "Tin Town," because gold and tin used to be exploited from this locality. Rocks containing golden wires were heated and people used chisels to take those wires out and further on, to re-melt them. Via Ignatia Road was passing here. Only four miles from Makedonska Kamenica city are remains of late ancient city, submerged under the water.



In the bed of Dragon Lake on the shore of the village Dulica, near by the place called Begov Dab was discovered great basilica from V century with many materials (ceramics, columns and capitals). Also in the bed of Kalimanci Lake in Ilijovo, in vicinity of the locality Crkvishte, were discovered remains of an ancient building, where later was built and existed with graves from the end of XIV or early XV century.



How to get there: Drive toward Shtip - Kochani toward Delchevo.At R1 park your car. Be very careful: follow carefully the GPS, when approaching the place, because the "parking place" is a only an expansion of the road, so do not miss it!



The cache is 200 ml glass juice jar. Please, be aware of snakes, especially in summer! Check the cache place with a stick or some branch first!!!


Please, be very careful when getting out, logging and putting back the cache, in order to protect it of Muggles! In case of lost of the cache the owner can visit the location and restore it only 2-3 per year! Thanks.

Sources: Internet. Photos: Internet and original (by Galejnik)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Cubgb uvag (ivrj gbjneq rnfg).

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)