Portal:North Macedonia/Intro
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The Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian: Република Македонија, Albanian: Republika e Maqedonisë), internationally recognised as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian: Поранешна Југословенска Република Македонија, Albanian: Ish Republika Jugosllave e Maqedonisë), is an independent state on the Balkan peninsula in the heart of southeastern Europe. The country borders Serbia and Montenegro to the north, Albania to the west, Greece to the south, and Bulgaria to the east. In 2005, the Republic of Macedonia recieved official candidate status for the European Union. The capital is Skopje with more than 600,000 inhabitants. It also has a number of other significant cities, notably Bitola, Prilep, Tetovo, Kumanovo, Ohrid, Veles, Stip, and Strumica. The Republic of Macedonia is often called a land of lakes and mountains. There are more than 50 natural and artificial lakes and sixteen mountain ranges higher than 2000 metres above sea level.