Lake Matka, an artificial accumulation on Treska river next to Skopje, is the latest to fall victim to the overuse of water resources. Photographs from the lake show it dried out in places.

Authorities were freely using the accumulated waters in the artificial lakes during the summer, and exporting surplus electricity, only to leave the country without any water reserves during the heating season. The real colds are yet to come and Macedonia is now forced to pay excessive prices for electricity imports.