Kriva Palanka (Macedonian: Крива Паланка [ˌkriːva ˈpalanka] ⓘ) is a town located in the northeastern part of North Macedonia.

[1] The town lies near the Deve Bair national border crossing with Bulgaria; as such, there is nearly constant heavy traffic passing through the main road which bisects the two sides of the town (Deve Bair is considered the main border crossing between North Macedonia and Bulgaria because it links the capitals Skopje with Sofia).

This is due to the high altitude setting, which stimulates orographic precipitation of moisture carried by the western and southern winds.

The areas over 1700 meters above sea level have quite low mean annual temperatures, therefore the peaks of Ruen and Carev Vrv are under snow cover from October until early June.

A class of rich and influential traders and artisans was formed who traveled outside the Ottoman Empire and brought new ideas of the 19th century to the city.

During this period, Yoakim Karchovski with the help of the local traders in 1814-1819, printed five famous books in Buda in a lively folk speech.

After the First World War in 1919-1920 when Kriva Palanka for the first time obtained the status of municipality as part of the Vardar Banovina of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, the town received its first native president (mayor) and its physical appearance, which has mostly been maintained as it is today.

Orthodoxy is deeply entered into the life and traditions of the citizens of Kriva Palanka for which testify the large number of churches and monasteries that are located in the city and in the immediate vicinity.