Golem Grad meaning Big City, also known as Snake Island, is an island in the Republic of Macedonia

Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...

. The island covers an area of 18 hectares. It is located in Lake Prespa

Lake Prespa

Prespa is the name of two freshwater lakes in southeast Europe, shared by Greece, Albania, and Macedonia. Of the total surface area, belongs to Macedonia, to Greece and to Albania...

, a few kilometers from Greek

Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....

 and Albania

Albania

Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...

n territory. Golem Grad is home to several ancient ruins and churches. It is also home to several different communities of animals, especially snakes. In August 2008, the island opened to tourists.

Description

Golem Grad has an area of 18 hectares and is 600 meters long and 350 meters wide. The island is currently uninhabited and has been so since the mid-20th century, when the small monastic community left the island.
The island can only be reached by boat. The village of Konjsko

Konjsko

Konjsko is a village in the Resen municipality of Macedonia. It is located on the shore of Lake Prespa, two kilometers from Golem Grad....

is closest to the island with about two kilometers of water between the two.