stream of Beličica from the right). Lower Radika In the lower, -long section of the course, the Radika continues its general direction to the south. It carved a long and deep gorge between the mountains of Korab and Dešat on the west and Bistra (on the east). There are many interesting places along the Radika valley; including the villages of Velebrdo, Rostuša, Janče, Prisojnica, Skudrinje, the Saint Jovan Bigorski Monastery, the spa of Kosovratska banja (with sulphuric water, hot up to ) and the unique Alčija cave, formed in alabaster. Alabaster is abundant in the surrounding terrain and it has been extracted and treated for industrial and commercial use in the town of Debar. After the gorge, the Radika receives its major tributary, the Valovica river from the right and flows on the northern slopes of the Stogovo mountain. After the villages of Dolno Kosovrasti, Dolno Melničani, Gorenci and Rajčica, the Radika empties into the Black Drin, just south of Debar. The river Black Drin is one of tributaries of River Drin, while the next is White Drin that originate from Kosova. Actually, the lowest section of the river is floodbed by the artificial lake Debar on the Black Drin, becoming one of lake's bays. Environment Important Bird Area The Radika catchment is characterised by mountains, cliffs and rocky gorges, with coniferous and deciduous woodlands and alpine pastures. The land is used mainly for cattle-grazing and forestry. It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports populations of Eurasian eagle-owls, golden eagles, yellow-billed choughs, wallcreepers, alpine accentors and white-winged snowfinches. Notes and references Notes References Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija, Third edition (1985); Prosveta; Jovan Đ. Marković (1990): Enciklopedijski geografski leksikon Jugoslavije; Svjetlost-Sarajevo; Rivers of Kosovo Rivers of North Macedonia Geography of Prizren District Important Bird Areas of North Macedonia