Garbage bag for a free overnight stay above lake Kozjak

The photo shows the location of the Igloo. Photo: Aleksandar Hristov, taken from airbnb

Categories: culturetourismhealth

Organizers: Grizzly Igloos Aleksandar Hristov and Jasen National Park

Lokacation: Mountain Jasen, lake Kozjak, Skopje, North Macedonia (41.892196205604584, 21.2368592364894659)

Where good practice takes place: outer space

About good practice

A description of the location

The famous Grizzly Igloos are built at an altitude of 2,154 meters above sea level, on Mount Jasen. On Mount Jasen there is a rather large complex called Lake Kozjak. In the vicinity of this complex, in a slightly hidden and private part of the mountain, these igloos are located. Those igloos with a diameter of five meters are located in the widowed landscape around Lake Kozjak, only 19 kilometers from the center of Skopje.

The reason for the emergence of good practice

Mount Jasen and the wonderful view of Lake Kozjak have been neglected and abandoned for years. In addition, it was filled with garbage and looked more like garbage than a mountain. The project and the igloos are part of a wider effort to promote sustainable tourism in this area, which combines environmental activities with innovative accommodation options and the use of nature and natural beauty as spaces for recreation, socializing, etc. Grizzly Igloos and the activities that take place there transform the location into a tourist attraction, cultural center, event scene, park or educational center. They also create a physical and perceptual effect, which they create in the wake of peace and isolation. In addition, they promote sustainability and ecology, making the site an educational or environmental area where visitors learn about sustainability.

The operation of best practice

The creator of the Igloos, Aleksander, together with the volunteers of the Jasen National Park, conducts several campaigns related to nature. So one of these promotions is to clean the Jasen mountain and get a free night in the haunted igloos. Every week, a group of people who pre-register for the activity get together and go to clean Jasen together. Whoever collects the most bags full of garbage from the mountain receives a free night in one of the five igloos. With this practice, they encourage people to conscientiously deal with the pollution of nature, take care of the environment and spend more time in nature. Some of their next projects related to Jasen Mountain and the igloo are acreage, environmental training, marking hiking trails, educational workshops on various topics related to nature, etc. This project not only promotes environmental responsibility but also offers an unforgettable stay in one of the most picturesque places in the country.

More about good practice: https://www.instagram.com/grizzlyigloos/