GC5Z4CV Goatland (Traditional Cache) in North Macedonia created by Galejnik

GC5Z4CV ▼

A cache by Galejnik Message this owner

Hidden : 7/11/2015

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Goatland

This cache is hidden at the edge of the village Kozhle, which from the heights looks over the Vardar river and its confluence with the River Pchinya.

The name of this village is derived from the word either “Koza” (Goat) or “Kozha” (leather, fur). Both names capture some aspects of former activities of the villagers: they used to breed goats, and trade with leather and fur of domestic animals.

The village fountain

Stone houses, some 80 of them, used to housed more than 400 habitants. Today only 14 mostly old people live permanently here. However, during the weekends the village is visited by many people who origin from here and adapted their old houses. In the center of the village there is an old stone fountain with good water. Here, of course, village people gathered for various occasions.

A view toward Vardar River (and Nikita)

Not far from here, at the end of the village still stand rails from World War II, because this region was famous by various ores and minerals, as quartz, feldspar and kaolin. It’s hard to believe, but ones in Kozhle famous porcelain was manufactured and transported to Constantinople.

This relatively small village has two churches (St. Spas and St. Nikola) and one monastery complex with a church ("Birth of the Virgin"), built next to Pchinya River at the foot of a steep cliff. .

Juniper trees near the path

The surrounding of this village is very nice and you can spend a day hiking around. You can hike toward the Pchinya River, which flows east of the village. There is a path from the village which leads you south-southeast toward a monastery and church "Birth of the Virgin". The path is near the cache location (waypoint R1). On this path you can notice unique plants and trees, typical for submediteranian region. The "fir-shape" trees are a species of Juniper, called "diva foya" (Juniperus excelsa). The same tree species you can see at the "Golem Grad" island at the Prespa Lake. Somewhere near the waypoint R2 there is a crossing of two paths. You can turn east, downhill and after some 10 minutes you will reach the monastery and church "Birth of the Virgin". You will see the Pchinya River and the highway E75 across the River. From the waypoint R2 you can continue south, about 1.5 km to the confluence of Pchinya and Vardar River. Bring plenty of water with you, if you hike here during summer - the path is mostly opened, there are only scattered shadows of trees and it can be REALLY VERY hot. .

On the path toward the monastery (a suspension bridge over Pchinya River)

How to get there: Drive on the highway E75 toward Veles. Before the village Katlanovo leave the highway and drive toward Blace and Kozhle, some 8 km.

The church and monastery from the highway