Evros (regional unit)

Evros
Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Έβρου
Regional unit
Municipalities of Evros
Municipalities of Evros
Evros within Greece
Evros within Greece
Evros is located in Greece
Evros
Evros
Location within Greece
Coordinates: 41°10′N 26°05′E / 41.167°N 26.083°E / 41.167; 26.083
CountryGreece
Administrative regionEastern Macedonia and Thrace
SeatAlexandroupolis
Area
 • Total
4,242 km2 (1,638 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)
 • Total
133,802
 • Density31.54/km2 (81.69/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
68x xx
Area code255x0
Vehicle registrationΕΒ, ΟΡ

Evros (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Έβρου, romanized: Perifereiakí enótita Évrou) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Its name is derived from the river Evros, which appears to have been a Thracian hydronym. Evros is the northernmost regional unit. It borders Turkey to the east, across the river Evros, and it borders Bulgaria to the north and the northwest.

Its capital is Alexandroupolis. Together with the regional units Rhodope and Xanthi, it forms the geographical region of Western Thrace. The population density was 32 per km2 (2021).

Geography

Flag of rebels of Evros region during the Greek War of Independence

Evros is one of the largest regional units of Greece. It forms the eastern part of the geographical region Western Thrace, and includes the island Samothrace in the northern Aegean Sea. 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.

The Rhodope Mountains lie in the west and the southwest. The Aegean Sea 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):

Prefecture

Evros was established as a prefecture in 1930 (Greek: 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.

New municipality
(2011)		Old municipalitiesSeat
AlexandroupolisAlexandroupolisAlexandroupolis
Traianoupoli
Feres
DidymoteichoDidymoteichoDidymoteicho
Metaxades
OrestiadaOrestiadaOrestiada
Vyssa
Kyprinos
Trigono
Samothrace (Samothraki)SamothraceSamothrace
SoufliSoufliSoufli
Orfeas
Tychero

Provinces

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

History

The region had been under the rule of the Byzantine Empire from the time of the division of the Roman Empire into Eastern and Western empires in the early fourth century AD. It was part of the theme of Thrace and then part of the theme of Macedonia, from where the Macedonian dynasty originated. Manuel Erotikos Komnenos was born in the theme of Thrace, who was the first fully documented ancestor of the Komnenos dynasty. The emperor of Nicaea, John III Doukas Vatatzes, was born c. 1192 in Didymoteicho. Byzantine emperor John V Palaiologos was born in 18 June 1332 in Didymoteicho.

As a part of Western Thrace, the territory of the Evros regional unit followed the fate of that region. In 1821, several parts of Evros region rebelled, such as Lavara and Samothraki, and participated in the Greek War of Independence. It became part of Greece in 1920 when it was ceded by Bulgaria 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), many Greek refugees from Eastern Thrace, next door, 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

Railway

The Alexandroupolis–Svilengrad railway is the main railway within the Evros regional unit: the railway connects with the Thessaloniki–Alexandroupolis railway at Alexandroupolis, and the Istanbul–Pythio railway at Pythio. As of October 2026, passenger trains only run between Alexandroupoli and Ormenio.

Road

The A2 motorway (Egnatia Odos), part of the European route E90, passes through the regional unit to the south, leading to Thessaloniki and Igoumenitsa to the west: the A2 stops short of the border with Turkey at Kipoi, with the EO2 road connecting the A2 with the D.110 road. The EO2 also leads to Thessaloniki, but unlike the motorway it passes through Alexandroupolis and Feres.

The European route E85 runs between Alexandroupolis and the border with Bulgaria near Ormenio, via Kastanies. The route includes the EO2, EO51 and the Kastanies–Ormenio National Road: part of the EO51, between the junction with the A2 near Ardani [el] and Mandra [el], is being upgraded to the A21 expressway.

The EO53 road runs between Alexandroupolis and Mikro Dereio, near the border with Bulgaria: however, the border crossing itself is unbuilt.

Air

The Alexandroupolis International Airport is served by mostly national flights. The airport is east of the city, accessible via the EO2 road.

Sights

The most important sights of the prefecture are:

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. ↑ Law, Gwillim (1999). Administrative subdivisions of countries: a comprehensive world reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7864-0729-3.
  4. ↑ Επίτομο Γεωγραφικό Λεξικό της Ελλάδος (Geographical Dictionary of Greece), Μιχαήλ Σταματελάτος, Φωτεινή Βάμβα-Σταματελάτου, εκδ. Ερμής, ΑΘήνα 2001
  5. ↑ Kanellopoulou, Christina (8 May 2026). "Alexandroupoli - Ormenio" (PDF). Hellenic Train (in Greek and English). Athens. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 October 2026. Retrieved 15 October 2026.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "40 εκατ. € για το τμήμα Αρδάνιο - Μάνδρα του Κάθετου Άξονα Αρδάνιο - Ορμένιο" [€40 million for the Ardanio - Mandra section of the Ardanio–Ormenio Vertical Axis]. Alexandroupoli Online (in Greek). Alexandroupolis. 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 28 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2026.
  8. ↑ "Malamatina". 12 February 2018.