Matka is the oldest artificial lake in North Macedonia, with its reservoir being built in 1938. It was created by damming the Treska River with the dam of St. Andrew and forming an artificial reservoir in the Matka Canyon.
The water from the lake is used for hydroelectric power generation as well as irrigation of the surrounding villages. The lake is also stocked with fish and is frequently used for recreational fishing. Within the lake, there is the underwater cave called Vrelo, one of the deepest underwater caves in Europe, with a depth of over .
References
External links "Explore Macedonia" "Top 10 European canyons and gorges for walking and hiking trips", Guardian, 13 August 2015. "Matka and Vrelo - a world beauty without owners and guards", Dnevnik, 16 June 2015.