Kokino, an ancient megalithic observatory, North Macedonia

© stoimilov/Shutterstoc

Sunrise on the Solstice. Summer solstice

It's that time of year again—the daylight stretches long into the evening hours! This phenomenon, known as the summer solstice, occurs when one of the Earth's poles is most inclined toward the sun. Today's image features the Kokino megalithic observatory, which is part of the Kokino archaeological site in North Macedonia. It is believed that the Kokino observatory marked the position of the sun during summer and winter solstices, as well as the equinox, and consists of two platforms. A stone block on the upper platform of the observatory indicates the summer solstice sunrise direction when seen from a seat on the lower platform. So, when in North Macedonia, don't miss out on experiencing this ancient astronomical wonder!