Macedonia is a rugged country, consisting largely of mountains and hills. Forests of beech, oak, and pine grow in many areas of the country, particularly in the west. The Vardar is Macedonia's longest river. It rises in the northwest and flows through central and southern Macedonia. Macedonia has cold, snowy winters.
Summers are hot in the mountain valleys but cooler at higher elevations.
The government owns many factories and other businesses in Macedonia. About 40 percent of Macedonians work in industry and less than 10 percent in agriculture. Such service industries as government, health care, and trade employ most other Macedonians. Macedonian factories produce cement, iron and steel, refrigerators, sulfuric acid, textiles, and tobacco products. The country's mines yield chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, uranium, and zinc.