The relief of Macedonia is characterized by large and high mountain massifs giving way to extensive, flat valleys and plains. The valleys are interconnected by low passes or deep ravines, such as those of Derven, Taor, Veles, Demir Kapija and Ciganska Klisura on the River Vardar, and Kresna and Rupel on the River Strumica.

Macedonia is a predominantly mountainous country. The country's high mountains are suitable for winter sports and hunting. About 35% of the former Yugoslavia's ski slopes could be found in Macedonia. Famous are the slopes of Mounts Shar, Mavrovo and Pelister, as well as the Gorge of Radika with its green and wild waters. Mount Galichica, standing high between Lakes Ohrid and Prespa as a guardian of the two lakes is another new winter resort.

There are 14 mountain peaks higher than 2,000 metres in Macedonia. The highest is Golem Korab, at 2,753 metres.

Macedonia, just like the rest of the Balkan countries, is located in a peculiar seismic region. In the period of 1970-1990, the Seismological Observatory at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius University registered about 30 earthquakes with a magnitude exceeding 5 degrees according to the Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg's scale (MCS).