Evros ( el, Περιφερειακή ενότητα Έβρου) is one of the

regional units of Greece The 74 regional units of Greece ( el, περιφερειακές ενότητες, ; sing. , ) are the country's Seventy-four second-level administrative units. They are divisions of the country's 13 regions, and are further divided into munici ...

. It is part of the

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics ( physical geography), human impact characteristics ( human geography), and the interaction of humanity an ...

East Macedonia and Thrace Eastern Macedonia and Thrace ( el, Ανατολική Μακεδονία και Θράκη, translit=Anatolikí Makedonía ke Thráki, ) is one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the cou ...

. Its name is derived from the river Evros, which appears to have been a

Thracian The Thracians (; grc, Θρᾷκες ''Thrāikes''; la, Thraci) were an Indo-European speaking people who inhabited large parts of Eastern and Southeastern Europe in ancient history.. "The Thracians were an Indo-European people who occupied ...

hydronym A hydronym (from el, ὕδρω, , "water" and , , "name") is a type of toponym that designates a proper name of a body of water. Hydronyms include the proper names of rivers and streams, lakes and ponds, swamps and marshes, seas and oceans. As ...

. Evros is the northernmost regional unit. It borders

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

to the east, across the river Evros, and it borders

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...

to the north and the northwest. Its capital is Alexandroupolis. Together with the regional units Rhodope and

Xanthi Xanthi ( el, Ξάνθη, ''Xánthi'', ) is a city in the region of Western Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Xanthi regional unit of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Amphitheatrically built on the foot of Rhodope m ...

, it forms the geographical region of

Western Thrace Western Thrace or West Thrace ( el, �υτικήΘράκη, '' ytikíThráki'' ; tr, Batı Trakya; bg, Западна/Беломорска Тракия, ''Zapadna/Belomorska Trakiya''), also known as Greek Thrace, is a geographic and historica ...

. The population density was 34.77 per km² (2011).

Geography

Evros is one of the largest regional units of Greece. It forms the eastern part of the geographical region

, and includes the island

Samothrace Samothrace (also known as Samothraki, el, Σαμοθράκη, ) is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a municipality within the Evros regional unit of Thrace. The island is long and is in size and has a population of 2,859 (2011 ...

in the northern

Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi ( Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It is located between the Balkans ...

. Its length is about 150 km from north to south (excluding Samothrace). Its width ranges from 70 to 100 km from east to west. The most important rivers are the Evros and its tributary

Arda Arda or ARDA may refer to: Places *Arda (Maritsa), a river in Bulgaria and Greece * Arda (Italy), a river in Italy * Arda (Douro), a river in Portugal *Arda, Bulgaria, a village in southern Bulgaria * Arda, County Fermanagh, a townland in County ...

. The

Rhodope Mountains The Rhodopes (; bg, Родопи, ; el, Ροδόπη, ''Rodopi''; tr, Rodoplar) are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, and the largest by area in Bulgaria, with over 83% of its area in the southern part of the country and the remainder in ...

lie in the west and the southwest. The

lies to the south. The Evros valley is flat. Samothrace is mountainous. The coastal area has a predominantly Mediterranean climate, whereas the northern part and the mountains have a colder continental climate.

Administration

The Evros regional unit is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox): * Alexandroupolis (1) * Didymoteicho (2) * Orestiada (3) *

(''Samothraki'', 4) * Soufli (5)

Prefecture

Evros was established as a

prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...

in 1930 ( el, Νομός Έβρου), when the former Thrace Prefecture was divided into the Rhodope and Evros prefectures. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region, with no change in its boundaries. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.

Provinces

*Province of Orestiada - Orestiada *Province of Didymoteicho - Didymoteicho *Province of Soufli - Soufli *Province of Alexandroupolis - Alexandroupolis *Province of

- Samothrace ''Note:'' Provinces no longer hold any legal status in

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...

History

As a part of

, the territory of the Evros regional unit followed the fate of that region. In 1821, several parts of Evros region rebelled, such as

Lavara Lavara ( el, Λάβαρα) is a town located in the eastern part of Evros regional unit. In 1821, Lavara participated in the Greek War of Independence and rose up against the Ottoman Empire. It was the seat of the municipality of Orfeas ( el, Ο� ...

and

Samothraki Samothrace (also known as Samothraki, el, Σαμοθράκη, ) is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. It is a municipality within the Evros regional unit of Thrace. The island is long and is in size and has a population of 2,859 (2011 ...

, and participated in the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

. It became part of Greece in 1920 when it was ceded by

as a result of the Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine. Initially it was part of the Thrace Prefecture, which was subdivided in 1930. During the

Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) There have been several Greco-Turkish Wars: *Greek War of Independence (1821–1830), against the Ottoman Empire *Undeclared war in 1854 during the Crimean War, with Greek irregulars invading Ottoman Epirus ( Epirus Revolt of 1854) and Thessaly * Fi ...

, many Greek refugees settled in the Evros. New towns were built, including Orestiada. The Evros river valley has flooded several times, with the most recent floods taking place in 2005, 2006, 2014 and in 2021 where the multiple and largest floods took place.

Transport

The main roads in the Evros regional unit are: * Egnatia Odos/ E90 motorway (...

Komotini Komotini ( el, Κομοτηνή, tr, Gümülcine, bg, Комотини) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-p ...

- Alexandroupolis - İpsala (Turkey)) *

Greek National Road 2 Greek National Road 2 ( el, Εθνική Οδός 2, abbreviated as EO2) is a single carriageway with at-grade intersections, located in the regions of West Macedonia, Central Macedonia and East Macedonia and Thrace. It connects the Albania ...

(... Komotini - Alexandroupolis - Feres) * Greek National Road 51/ E85 ( Svilengrad (Bulgaria) - Orestiada - Didymoteicho - Feres) *

Greek National Road 53 Greek National Road 53 (abbr: EO53) is a national highway of Greece. It connects Alexandroupoli with Ormenio on the Bulgarian border, passing through Aisymi, Mikro Dereio, Metaxades and Kyprinos Kyprinos ( el, Κυπρίνος) is a town and a fo ...

( Ormenio - Metaxades - Aisymi - Alexandroupolis) A railway line connects Alexandroupolis with Thessaloniki via Komotini,

and

Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has b ...

. Another line connects Alexandroupolis with

Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria Dimitrovgrad ( bg, Димитровград ) is a town in Haskovo Province, Bulgaria. It is along the Maritsa River in the Thrace region, close to the provincial capital, Haskovo. Dimitrovgrad is the administrative centre of Dimitrovgrad Mu ...

via Didymoteicho and Orestiada, with a branch line from Didymoteicho to

Uzunköprü Uzunköprü is a town in Edirne Province in Turkey. It is named after a historical stone bridge, claimed to be the world's longest, on the Ergene River. It is a strategically important border town, located on the routes connecting Turkey to the ...

, Turkey. The

Alexandroupolis International Airport Alexandroupoli Airport " Dimokritos" or "Democritus" (Greek: Κρατικός Αερολιμένας Αλεξανδρούπολης "Δημόκριτος", ''Kratikós Aeroliménas Alexandrúpolis "Dimókritos"'') is an airport 7 km east of ...

is served by mostly national flights.

Sights

The most important sights of the prefecture are: * Church of Theotokos Kosmosoteira. The church was founded in

1152 Year 1152 ( MCLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Levant * Spring – King Baldwin III and his mother, Queen Melisende, are called to intervene ...

. It is considered one of the best examples of

Byzantine art Byzantine art comprises the body of Christian Greek artistic products of the Eastern Roman Empire, as well as the nations and states that inherited culturally from the empire. Though the empire itself emerged from the decline of Rome and lasted u ...

. *

with the Sanctuary of the Great Gods and its

Archaeological Museum An archaeology museum is a museum that specializes in the display of archaeological Types Many archaeology museum are in the open air, such as the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Roman Forum. Others display artifacts inside buildings, such as ...

. *

Evros Delta National Park Evros may refer to: * the Greek name of the Maritsa Maritsa or Maritza ( bg, Марица ), also known as Meriç ( tr, Meriç ) and Evros ( ell, Έβρος ), is a river that runs through the Balkans in Southeast Europe. With a length of ,

* Lighthouse of Alexandroupolis * The post-Byzantine churches in the villages of Alepochori ( Church of Saint Athanasius), Metaxades ( Church of Saint Athanasius) and Paliouri ( Church of Saint Pantaleon) * The ancient Mesimvria-Zoni *

Dadia Forest The Dadia Forest is a large area of natural woodland in the Evros regional unit in northeastern Greece. The forest consists mostly of oak and pine. It is one of the most important areas in Europe for birds of prey, and the only forest in Europe ...

* Fossilized Forest of Lefkimmi * Cyclops Polyphemus Cave in Makri * Burial Tomb of Mikri Doxipara:

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: * Rome, the capital city of Italy * Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lett ...

Tomb which dates from the 2nd century * Didymoteicho ** Byzantine Castle ** Çelebi Sultan Mehmed Mosque ** Hamam of Oruç Paşa ** Türbe of Oruç Pasha ** the Kayali Cave and the Vouva Cave * Castle of Pythio * The thermal baths of Traianoupoli * Castle of Avanta-Potamos * The Ethnological Museum of Thrace in Alexandroupolis * The Silk Museum of Soufli * Zourafa islet * The village Metaxades with its traditional architecture * The Pomak villages Goniko and Roussa with the traditional architecture

Notable people

Hrysopiyi Devetzi Hrysopiyi "Piyi" Devetzi ( el, Χρυσοπηγή Δεβετζή, , born January 2, 1976) is a retired Greek athlete who competed in the triple jump and long jump. Devetzi was born in Alexandroupoli. She won the triple jump silver medal at the 200 ...

(1976, Alexandroupolis), Greek silver Olympic Champion in triple jump (Athens, 2004) *

Demis Nikolaidis Themistoklis "Demis" Nikolaidis ( el, Ντέμης Νικολαΐδης; born 17 September 1973) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a striker. He was the forty second president of AEK Athens, and is considered one of the fi ...

(1973, Alexandroupolis), Greek international footballer, European Champion with

Greece National football team The Greece national football team ( el, Εθνική Ελλάδας, ) represents Greece in men's international football matches and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece play most ...

(Portugal, 2004) *

Stelios Venetidis Stelios Venetidis ( el, Στέλιος Βενετίδης; born 19 November 1976 in Orestiada) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defender. He used to play in the left-back position, but could be also used on the left si ...

(1976, Orestiada),Greek international footballer, European Champion with

(Portugal, 2004) * Athanasios Tsigas (1982, Aristeino Alexandroupolis), Greek footballer * Lefteris Hapsiadis (1953, Kila Feres), Greek lyricist and writer * Andreas Andreadis (1982, Provatonas Soufli), Greek international volleyball player * Marios Giourdas (1973, Alexandroupolis), international volleyball player * Thanassis Moustakidis (1962, Soufli), Greek international volleyball player, player with the most appearances with Greece National football team *

Nikos Samaras Nikos Samaras (1 July 1970 – 4 January 2013) was a Greek volleyball player, who competed for various Greek, Italian, Spanish and Turkish clubs. Samaras was born in Stuttgart. He led Orestiada, helping the team to become successful in Gr ...

(1970-2013, Orestiada), Greek international volleyball player, player-symbol for the Greek volleyball * Constantin Carathéodory (1873-1950,

Nea Vyssa Nea Vyssa () is a village in the northeastern part of the Evros regional unit in Greece. It was the seat of the municipality of Vyssa until 2011. In 2011 its population was 2,805. It is situated near the border with Turkey and the river Evros, ab ...

), Greek mathematician * Dimosthenis Michalentzakis (1998, Feres), Greek Gold Paralympic Champion Swimmer in category S9 (Rio, 2016) *

Marinos Ouzounidis Marinos Ouzounidis ( el, Μαρίνος Ουζουνίδης, born 10 October 1968) is a Greek football manager and former professional player. Playing career Ouzounidis started his professional career playing for Greek club Skoda Xanthi as a ...

(1968, Alexandroupolis), former international Greek footballer, now football coach * Manolis Siopis (1994, Alexandroupolis), Greek international footballer * Dimosthenis Magginas (1982, Alexandroupolis), Greek middle-distance, long-distance runner * Fotis Kosmas, (1926-1995), Alexandroupolis) Mediterranean and 7th Olympic winner in decathlon * Kostas Gatsioudis (1973, Didymoteicho), 6th Olympic winner, Mediterranean and Silver World champion, in Javelin throw *

Nikos Alavantas Nikos Alavantas ( el, Nίκος Aλαβάντας; born 13 April 1959) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a right-back. During his club career, Alavantas played for PAOK and Xanthi. He also amassed 31 caps for the Greece n ...

(1959, Krios Orestiada), former Greek international footballer * Giannis Matzourakis (1949, Didymoteicho), former footballer, now football coach *

Nikos Hadjinikolaou Nikos Chatzinikolaou ( el, Νίκος Χατζηνικολάου) also spelled as Hatzinikolaou, Hatzinicolaou or Chatzinikolaou (born 1962 in Alexandroupoli) is a Greek journalist and media entrepreneur. Biography Hadjinikolaou studied at P ...

(1962, Alexandroupolis), Greek journalist * Renos Haralampidis (1970, Spilaio), Greek actor, film director * Yannis Stankoglou (1974, Thourio), Greek actor * John III Doukas Vatatzes (1192–1254, Didymoteicho), emperor of

Nicaea Nicaea, also known as Nicea or Nikaia (; ; grc-gre, Νίκαια, ) was an ancient Greek city in Bithynia, where located in northwestern Anatolia and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea (the first and s ...

* John V Palaiologos (1332–1391, Didymoteicho),

Byzantine Emperor This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as ...

Bayezid II Bayezid II ( ota, بايزيد ثانى, Bāyezīd-i s̱ānī, 3 December 1447 – 26 May 1512, Turkish: ''II. Bayezid'') was the eldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512. During his reign, B ...

(1481–1512, Didymoteicho) Sultan of the Ottoman Empire *

Eugenios Eugenidis Eugenios Eugenidis ( el, Ευγένιος Ευγενίδης; December 1882 – April 1954) was a prominent Greek shipping magnate. Early life Eugenios Eugenidis was born in Didymoteicho, Evros (then part of the Ottoman Empire) on 22 December 1 ...

(1882–1954, Didymoteicho), shipping magnate *

Sürmeli Ali Pasha Sürmeli Ali Pasha ( 1645 – 29 May 1695) was an Ottoman statesman who served as grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire from 1694 to 1695. His epithet ''sürmeli'' literally means "wearing mascara" in Turkish. Ali was born in Didymoteicho (tod ...

, (1645-1695, Didymoteicho),

Grand Vizier Grand vizier ( fa, وزيرِ اعظم, vazîr-i aʾzam; ota, صدر اعظم, sadr-ı aʾzam; tr, sadrazam) was the title of the effective head of government of many sovereign states in the Islamic world. The office of Grand Vizier was first ...

of the Ottoman Empire *Konstantinos Malamatinas, founder of retsina Malamatina * Paraskevas Tselios (1997, Alexandroupolis), Greek international volleyball player with

Greece men's national volleyball team The Greece men's national volleyball team is the national team of Greece. It is governed by the Hellenic Volleyball Federation and takes part in international volleyball competitions. Results Champions Runners up &nb ...

Savvas Gentsoglou Savvas Gentsoglou ( el, Σάββας Γκέντσογλου, ; born 19 September 1990) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. Club career AEK Athens Savvas Gentsoglou was promoted from the AEK Athens youth syst ...

(1990, Alexandroupolis), Greek football player * Gregoris Mentzas (1960, Alexandroupolis), Greek management scientist and professor at the National Technical University of Athens * Giorgos Valavanidis (1974, Alexandroupolis), Greek; former international basketball player, silver medalist with

Greece women's national under-16 basketball team The Greece women's national under-16 basketball team is a national basketball team of Greece, administered by the Hellenic Basketball Federation.

1991 File:1991 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Boris Yeltsin, elected as Russia's first president, waves the new flag of Russia after the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt, orchestrated by Soviet hardliners; Mount Pinatubo erupts in the Phi ...

and Greek champion with PAOK * Arete Kosmidou (1997, Alexandroupolis), Greek singer * Anestis Dalakouras (1993, Alexandroupolis), international Volleyball player with

Stavros Stathakis Stavros Stathakis ( gr, Σταύρος Σταθάκης; born 30 November 1987) is a Greek footballer who plays as a defender. Career PAE Thraki Born in Alexandroupoli, Stathakis began his football career with PAE Thraki. In three seasons, h ...

(1987, Alexandroupolis), Greece footballer *

(1959, Orestiada), former international footballer with

Greece national football team The Greece national football team ( el, Εθνική Ελλάδας, ) represents Greece in men's international football matches and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece play most ...

* Stefania Liberakaki (2002), Greek-Dutch singer originally from Sofiko, a village near Didymoteicho

References

External links

Evros terrain map
by Geopsis {{Authority control Prefectures of Greece 1920 establishments in Greece Regional units of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace