Macedonia is a predominantly mountainous country. The average altitude of the terrain is 850 meters. Approximately 80% of the country consists of hills and mountains. The mountains are divided into two basic groups: Dinaric and Rhodope. The mountains in the Rhodope group are older mountains. They are spread across the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia. The mountains in the Dinaric group are younger mountains, situated in the western and central part of the country. They are divided in 3 subgroups: area around the Vardar river, area around Pelagonia valley and the are in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia.

There are three national parks protected by law in the Republic of Macedonia: Pelister, Mavrovo and Galichica.

Many call it "the pearl of the Balkans" because of the magnificent lakes, the spas, the caves and the mountains Macedonia owns.