Missing Piece · Map quiz · Series
Missing Piece #13: name the country in 3 clues
Three clues, four options, one piece of the world: it shares one of Europe's oldest lakes with Albania, Mother Teresa was born in its capital, and it added a word to its name in 2019. Watch the film and lock in your answer before the piece drops. The answer, and how to go there, is below. Spoilers from here on.
The places in this film
- 1
The answer: North Macedonia
North Macedonia is a small, mountainous country in the Balkans, bordered by Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Kosovo. Until 2019 it was the Republic of Macedonia. Under the Prespa Agreement with Greece, it took the name North Macedonia, which came into force in February 2019. Mother Teresa was born in its capital, Skopje, in 1910.
- 2
Ohrid
Ohrid sits on Lake Ohrid, which North Macedonia shares with Albania. The lake is one of the oldest and deepest in Europe, at least a million years old. The town's churches, including St John at Kaneo on a cliff above the water, and the lake itself are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Summer brings swimming and boat trips.
- 3
Skopje
Skopje, the capital, mixes an Ottoman old bazaar with a riverside full of new monuments, bridges and neoclassical buildings. A memorial house marks Mother Teresa's birthplace. Matka Canyon, a short drive away, has a lake for kayaking and caves to explore.
Plan it
- Best time
- May to September for Lake Ohrid. Spring and autumn are best for Skopje and hiking.
- How long
- Two days in Skopje and two or three on Lake Ohrid.
- Getting around
- Buses link Skopje and Ohrid in about three hours. A rental car helps for Matka Canyon and the lakes.
Good to know
- Take a boat to St John at Kaneo for the classic view of the church.
- Visit Matka Canyon early before tour groups arrive.
- Ohrid pairs well with a trip across the border to the Albanian side of the lake.
Frequently asked
What is Missing Piece? +
Missing Piece is a short 3D map quiz by Drift Vistas. A country is lifted out of the globe, you get three clues and four options, and the piece drops back into place to reveal the answer. Then the film cuts to real footage of the country.
Why did Macedonia change its name? +
To settle a long dispute with Greece, whose northern region is also called Macedonia. Under the Prespa Agreement, the country became North Macedonia in February 2019, opening its path to NATO membership.
Is Lake Ohrid worth visiting? +
Yes. It is one of Europe's oldest lakes, and the town of Ohrid has medieval churches above clear water. The lake and town together are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
