WWII tank barrier removed in North Macedonia, restoring 40 miles of Pchinja River for rative fish

Kumanovo, North Macedonia: Native fish are swimming freely again along a key stretch of the Pchinja River after conservationists removed a World War II-era concrete barrier that blocked the waterway for decades.

The Pchinja runs 80 miles through North Macedonia and into Serbia, but more than 40 miles were cut off by a mound of concrete built to let battle tanks cross the river during the war. Located near Kumanovo, the country’s second largest city, the barrier slowed water flow and caused stagnation, oxygen depletion, and a buildup of pollutants and garbage. Water quality had declined significantly as a result.

The Kumanovo Municipality began work to remove the obstacle last October with support from national environmental authorities, according to local group Eco Awareness. The project reopened the river and restored natural flow.

“This is the largest obstacle that has been removed so far in Macedonia, but also in Europe,” said Ana Čolović Lesoska from Eco-awareness.