Maligrad (, also ''Qytet i Vogël'' "small city"; , ''Mal Grad'' "small city/town") is an
island
An island or isle is a piece of land, distinct from a continent, completely surrounded by water. There are continental islands, which were formed by being split from a continent by plate tectonics, and oceanic islands, which have never been ...
situated deep within the
Albanian part of
Lake Prespa
The Lake Prespa is located on the tripoint of North Macedonia, Albania and Greece. It is a system of two lakes separated by an isthmus: the Great Prespa Lake, divided between the three countries, and the Little Prespa Lake, mostly within Greec ...
, with many
caves
Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance underground (such as rock ...
suitable for wildlife and a circular
cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff or rock face is an area of Rock (geology), rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. ...
.
Shaped like a tadpole, it contains some trees and an area of sand. The island contains a famous
Saint Mary Church, built by
Kesar Novak (Qesar Novaku), a local noble, in 1369.
It has an area of almost 5 hectares.
See also
*
St. Mary's Church, Maligrad
The St. Mary's Church or Virgin Mary's Church () is an Eastern Orthodox cave church on the island of Maligrad, in the Albanian part of Lake Prespa. It is a Cultural Monument of Albania. The church is dedicated to Saint Mary, mother of Jesus, Mary ...
*
Golem Grad
References
Lake islands of Albania
Geography of Korçë County
Prespa National Park (Albania)
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