Kajmakčalan
Kajmakčalan (Kaimakchalan), or Kaimaki or Kaimaktsalan or Voras (Greek: Καϊμακτσαλάν or Καϊμάκι or Βόρας, Macedonian: Каjмакчалан, romanized: Kajmakčalan), is a mountain on the border between Greece and North Macedonia. It is the southernmost and highest peak, 2,521 metres (8,271 ft),[2] of a range known in Greek as the Voras Mountains and in Macedonian as Nidže. The frontier between the two countries runs across the summit.[1] It is the third-highest peak in Greece after Mytikas and Smolikas and the fifth-highest in North Macedonia.
| Kajmakčalan | |
|---|---|
| Voras | |
.jpg.webp) The Serbian-built Saint Peter Orthodox chapel on the top Kajmakčalan | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,521 m (8,271 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,758 m (5,768 ft)[1] |
| Listing | Ultra |
| Coordinates | 40°55′52″N 21°47′21″E[1] |
| Geography | |
  Kajmakčalan Location in Greece (on border with North Macedonia) | |
| Location | Greece–North Macedonia border |
| Parent range | Voras Mountains |
Etymology
The word "Kaimaktsalan" is of Ottoman Turkish origin inspired by its white, snowy peak: kaymakçalan means 'kaymak-like'. "Kaymak" in Turkish refers to a dairy product similar to clotted cream.
Climate
Kajmakčalan has a subarctic climate (Dfc) with short, cool summers and long, cold winters.
| Climate data for Kaimaktsalan Ski Center (2008-2022) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 9.4 (48.9) |
11.0 (51.8) |
10.3 (50.5) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
25.5 (77.9) |
24.6 (76.3) |
21.3 (70.3) |
17.4 (63.3) |
14.1 (57.4) |
11.3 (52.3) |
25.5 (77.9) |
| Average high °C (°F) | −2.0 (28.4) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
0.7 (33.3) |
4.8 (40.6) |
9.6 (49.3) |
13.9 (57.0) |
16.8 (62.2) |
16.7 (62.1) |
12.2 (54.0) |
8.1 (46.6) |
4.5 (40.1) |
0.1 (32.2) |
7.0 (44.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.4 (24.1) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
1.9 (35.4) |
6.4 (43.5) |
10.6 (51.1) |
13.2 (55.8) |
13.2 (55.8) |
9.1 (48.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
2.1 (35.8) |
−2.2 (28.0) |
4.1 (39.5) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −6.9 (19.6) |
−6.1 (21.0) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−0.7 (30.7) |
3.4 (38.1) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
9.6 (49.3) |
6.0 (42.8) |
2.4 (36.3) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
1.3 (34.3) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −20.8 (−5.4) |
−20.0 (−4.0) |
−19.1 (−2.4) |
−11.3 (11.7) |
−4.6 (23.7) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
2.6 (36.7) |
1.7 (35.1) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−10.0 (14.0) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−16.9 (1.6) |
−20.8 (−5.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 85.0 (3.35) |
58.5 (2.30) |
59.5 (2.34) |
62.3 (2.45) |
94.0 (3.70) |
81.4 (3.20) |
38.5 (1.52) |
56.1 (2.21) |
86.4 (3.40) |
78.6 (3.09) |
101.0 (3.98) |
88.2 (3.47) |
889.4 (35.02) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 9.1 | 8.4 | 8.9 | 9.4 | 10.5 | 9.4 | 5.4 | 5.9 | 8.1 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 8.6 | 97.4 |
| Source: National Observatory of Athens[3] | |||||||||||||
History
During World War I, in September 1916, the Battle of Kajmakčalan between Serbian and Bulgarian troops took place at Kajmakčalan and around the adjacent peaks, resulting in a Serbian victory. There is a small church and crypt for the Serbian soldiers who died in the battle. Near the top of the mountain, on the Greek side, there is a small church named Saint Peters (Sveti Petar in Serbian), the peak itself is called, besides Kajmakčalan, Profitis Ilias (Greek: Εκκλησία Προφήτης Ηλίας).[4]
References
- "Europe Ultra-Prominences" The summit of Kaimaktsalan is in the Mount Voras ski area and may lie wholly within Greece. Topographic maps give the elevation as 2521m, while the ski resort literature gives the elevation as 2521m. Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- "Óros Voras, Greece/North Macedonia" Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
- "National Observatory of Athens". National Observatory of Athens. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
- "You are being redirected..." www.serbia.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.