HISTORICAL INFORMATION

ABOUT EVROS RIVER AND EVROS DELTA

Evros River was known as “Romvos” in mythology. It

took its name after Evros, son of Cassander, king of

Thrace, who drowned in its waters, after having been

defamed by his stepmother because he has rejected her

love. Cassander, who did not believe Evros, pulled out his

sword to kill him. Evros, who could not avoid death,

plunged into the river waters and drowned. Evros River

was also named by Euripides as “argiroritis” (silver-

carrier) because it crossed and integrated the land making

it rich and fertile. It is finally worth mentioning that

during the Persian wars Xerxes, supplied and offered some

rest to his army next to Evros River; an incident revealing

the great richness of the river.

Nowadays, Evros River is called “Maritsa” by the Turks

and Bulgarians. This name is

mentioned for the first time

by Isaak Comnenos who

erected the monastery Virgin

Kosmosoteira (Saviour of the

world). However, there is

another version. The Slavs

trace the etymology of the name Maritsa to Moritsi or

Movaritsi which according to the Slavic language means

peace and tranquility.

In the southeastern part

of Evros prefecture, next to

the border with Turkey,

Evros River creates an

extensive delta with a total

surface are of 188km2.

Evros River is the second

biggest river in Eastern

Europe and is

characterized by the large

amount of sediment that it transfers and deposits on its

delta. Evros River springs from the mountains of Rila in

Bulgaria. The total length of the river is 528km, of which

310 km belong to Bulgaria, while 218km determine the

borders of Greece with the countries of Bulgaria and

Turkey.

Evros Delta is an important wetland on a national,

European and international level. For many years it is a

Protected Area, as it has a big value for wildlife and

humanity. In Evros Delta hundreds of thousands of birds

find shelter and food all year round, while it constitutes a

very important natural resource for the local community,

because of its value for fishing, stock breeding, agriculture,

climate, flood protection,

education, recreation and

science.