The Reka region is located in the western Macedonia, between Mavrovo and
Debar on one side, and the border with Republic of Albania and Kičevo area on
the other. Geographically, Reka region is bordered with the southern slopes of
Šar Mountain on the north, and the northern parts of the Dešat Mountain on the
south. Korab and Krčin Mountains draw the western border, while Bistra and
Stogovo Mountains draw the eastern one. The region bears its name because
of the Radika River (Reka Radika) and its tributary Small River (Mala Reka). Due
to the very harsh relief, with numerous peaks higher than 2.500 meters,
communication between the settlements was done via river flows. Main
communication directions were the flows of Radika and Mala Rivers. Mala River is
also known as Garska. There are several parts of the Reka
Region: Gorna (Upper) Reka, Dolna (Lower) Reka, Golema (Big) Reka, Mijačija, and
Malareka region. The region of Gorna Reka covers the
territory of the upper flow of Radika River, from its spring to its connection
with Ribnička River. Villages of Brodec, Krakornica, Bogdevo, Vrben, Trnica,
Volkovija, Tanuše, Nistrovo, and Bibanj belong to this part of Reka. Today,
almost all of these villages are abandoned. In the past, this part of the region
was mostly populated by Orthodox Macedonians who's mother
tongue was Albanian. Lower Reka covers the area from the
Ribnička River mouth to the Radika River to the locality Boškov Bridge, that is
– the mouth of the Mala River in Radika. Today, most of the living and developed
villages are located here: Žirovnica, Vrbjani, Rostuše, Bituše, Janče, Trebište,
Velebrdo, Skudrinje, Prisojnica, and Viduše. The Malareka region covers the
territory of the flows of Mala River, Tresonečka and Garska Rivers, as well as a
part from the Stogovo Mountain. Villages of Gari, Tresonče, Lazaropole, Selce,
Rosoki, Osoj, and Mogorče are located here. Big Reka region is located at the
mouth of Mala River in Radika River, to the locality of Gorenički Bridge. The population in Dolna, Mala and
Golema Reka is Macedonian (Mijaks) with Orthodox or Muslim religion. In Gorna
Reka (now almost abandoned) Rekanci live, who speak Albanian and belong
to Orthodox religion. They are also called Škreti. Today, Reka region has 10.000
inhabitants. Main occupation of these people was (and still is) cattle breeding
and working abroad. People from Reka are famous fresco-painters, wood carvers,
and mosaic-makers. Today, they are well-known facadiers, builders (bricklayers),
tile masters, and mosaic-makers in Italy and in Western Europe. It is
interesting to point the fact that in 1920's there was a pipeline that was
transporting the milk from the bigger villages to the diaries. Cheeses and hard
cheeses from the Reka region, using the Thessalonica Port, were exported all the
way to North America. Before the World War II, there were 2.5 million sheep and
the same number of goats, as well as more than 150.000 horses in the Reka
region. They presented strong economic potential, which provided good life for
more than 17.00o inhabitants in the region, known as Galičnik district at that
time.
