Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______________________________________________________________________________________ Under the auspice of: Division of Earth Sciences Chapter 1.5 THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA Mira Gorgieva, Kiril Popovski Geothermal Association of Macedonia – MAGA (Kocani) L E G E N D Spa location Fig. 1. Location of the spas in Macedonia Summary made in this paper. It’s evident that the approach to this economy sector should Even with a long tradition in me- be generally changed in order to reach dical use of thermal waters, Macedonia possible benefits. Orientation towards in- doesn’t have active thermal spas. A short troduction of recreational activities looks summary of the situation, experience, pro- as one of the feasible and economically blems, benefits of use and perspective is justified solution. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 1 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______________________________________________________________________________________ Fig.2. Ruins of the Roman Bath in Bansko – Strumica Introduction Acidic thermomineral waters and sulphu- ric, jodic, radioactive, fluoric waters. Lar- Appearance of the very large number gest is the participation of the acid waters of thermal and mineral waters over a such with the mineralization between 500- small territory as is Macedonia is connec- 5,000 mg/l, most of them with excellent ted to its diverse geological composition curative characteristics. Radioactivity of and continual tectonic processes over the some of them is significant, as it is in past. Four main tectonic compositions can Kezovica Spa (43.7 ME), Kosovrasti Spa be identified, all with completely different (33.79 ME), Banja-Kocani Spa (26.75 composition and evolution of the relief: ME), etc. - Serbian-Macedonian Massif The use of thermal waters for medical - Vardarian zone purposes has been known from the ancient - Pelagonia Massif, and Greek and Roman times. Particularly Ro- - West Macedonian zone. mans used to built luxury baths for public Thermomineral waters with different and private uses (Fig.2). After the decli- physical and chemical characteristics ap- nation during the mediaval times, the same pear above the rifts lines between them. intention has been followed during the Temperature of the thermal waters long Turkish occupation with establish- differs, depending on the location and ment of numerous public and private geothermal field in question. Highest is the baths. After the First World War a more temperature of the water in Bansko Spa systematic approach to the problem has (73ºC), then in Banja – Kocani (55ºC), been taken (chemical analysis, medical in- Kezovica Spa (54ºC), Katlanovo Spa vestigations, etc.), however without buil- (40.5ºC), Debar Spa (38.6ºC), Negorci Spa ding modern spa centers. The existing 7 (38ºC), Kumanovo Spa (31ºC), etc. spas have been built during the period The same is with the flows on disposal, between 1960 and 1980. After that, a new i.e.: Debar Spa (91.2 l/s), Kosovrasti Spa period of stagnation began, as a (68.8 l/s), Bansko Spa (35 l/s), Kumanovo consequence of the economical and other Spa (3,34 l/s), Kezovica Spa (5.4 l/s), influencing factors in the country and the Negorci Spa (1.8 l/s), etc. whole region. During the recent 2 years From the chemical point of view, some new initiatives to recover the thermal flows can be divided in two groups: situation are in flow. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 2 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______________________________________________________________________________________ Fig.3. Bath for medical treatment (Negorci Spa) 1. Curative characteristics waters and carbon/acid waters are used against problems of circulation of blood, Curative characteristics of the spas are stomack illnesses, high blood pressure etc. mainly connected to the chemical compo- The cold alkalin and radioactive waters are sition of thermal waters but also to the cli- used against stomack and urinal illnesses. matic characteristics of the spas location. Banja Spa is 6 km far of the town Debar Spa is located four km far from Kocani and is also known from the Roman the town Debar, near to the Albanian bor- times. It has sulphur type thermal waters der. It is at 780 m above sea level, below with low mineralisation and radioactivity. the Krcin and Desat montains. Climate is It is curative against rheumatic, skin and moderate but can be quite cold during the female illnesses, inflammation of joints, winter months. Thermal waters are of sul- musculs and veins, stomack, gall and urinal phur and iron type, depending on the sour- illnesses. ce in question. The first ones are used for Kosovrasti Spa is also near the town baths for curing rheumatism, ishias, ecze- Debar, near the Albanian border. It is very mas and female illnesses. The second ones near the Debar lake, at the height of 550 is used for drinking and baths and cure gas- m above the sea level. The spa is about tric, kidney and urinary, bronchial astma, 700 years old, like the Debar Spa. It was diabetis, giht, and anemia illnesses. That is very famous during the Turkish times, one of the older spas in Macedonia (about when was beautifully arranged. Thermal 700 years). waters are very much sulphurized but also Katlanovo Spa is the oldest and most with carbonates. Some of them are of high known spa in the country, lasting from the radioactivity. They are curative against ancient Greek times. In the Roman time it ishias, rheumatism, female and other il- was very important regional medical cen- lnessses. ter. Spa is located 15 km near Skopje (ca- Kumanovo Spa is about 3 km far from pital of Macedonia), near the highway to the town Kumanovo, near the railway line Greece and in an isolated location in the to Belgrade. Mineral waters of calcium- mountain, with clean air and calm atmos- magnesium-iron type are curative against phere. Several springs produce thermal wa- stomack, kidney, liver, urinal illnesses and ters of suphur-jod type but also alcaline- high blood pressure. It is located in a beau- carbon-acid type. Sulphur-jod waters are tiful surrounding with many recreational used for baths against rheumatism, para- possibilities. lysis, neuralgia, female illnesses, diabetis Negorci Spa is located at the far South and consequences of injuries. Hot alkalin of Macedonia, near the town Gevgelia. Cli- ______________________________________________________________________________________ 3 International Workshop on BALENOLOGY AND “WATER TOURIST CENTERS ______________________________________________________________________________________ Fig.4. Indoor pool for medical treatment (Negorci Spa) mate is typically Mediterranean. Waters There are also additional 19 thermo- are curative against rheumatism, ishias, ne- mineral springs in the country, convenient uralgia, paralysis, female and skin illnesses. for balneological uses. However, the plans The spa is known from very old times but to establish several new spa capacities it was arranged in 1903 by the local Tur- have been disturbed with the recent po- kish pasha and later on after the Second litical and economical destroying of the World War. country. Bansko Spa is located below the moun- tain Belasica, in the village Bansko. The 2. Energy use of thermal waters in spa was known in ancient Greek and Ro- spa centers man times but later on abandoned. Then, 300 years ago it was renewed by the Turks Temperatures and flows of thermal and is in use continually until now. The waters in spa centers in Macedonia, at biggest spa center is hotel “Tsar Samuil” least of the known springs and wells, allow but there are also several small hotels and energy uses in only some of them, i.e. in resthouses. Thermal waters are the hottest Bansko, Negorci, Katlanovo and probably ones in Macedonia (75ºC) and is of iron- in Debar and Kosovrasti.. sulphur type. It is curative against rheu- Presently, the following uses and acti- matism and ishias. vities are known: Kezovica Spa is located at the suburb In Bansko Spa, the water is used to of town Shtip in East Macedonia. It’s heat a greenhouse complex of 3.2 ha, ho- known from very long ago but there are tel “Tsar Samuil”, and a number of small no data about the real its origin. Thermal plastic houses. It is also used for sanitary waters of chlorid-hydrogen type with quite warm water preparation for the hotels in high radioactivity (43,7 Mach) and high the vil-lage and the recreational swimming temperature (66ºC). They are curative a- pool in the hotel “Tsar Samuil”. gainst rheumatism, joint inflammations, In Negorci Spa, all the spa complex is female illnesses, some skin illnesses, etc. heated with thermal water and all the warm sanitary water supply. ______________________________________________________________________________________ 4 Mira Gorgieva and Kiril Popovski: THERMAL SPAS IN MACEDONIA ______________________________________________________________________________________ Fig.5. Indoor swimming pool (Hotel “Car Samuil” – Bansko Fig.6. Plate heat exchangers in Hotel “Car Samuil” – Bansko The best illustration what econo- above 300.000 US$/year by substitution of mically means such use of geothermal heavy oil with geothermal energy. In the energy is the case of the hotel complex case of Negorci Spa, it’s above 100.000 “Tsar Samuil” in Bansko. They are saving US$/year. ______________________________________________________________________________________