Orestiada
| Orestiada Ορεστιάδα | |
|---|---|
  Orestiada | |
|
Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates: 41°30′N 26°32′E / 41.500°N 26.533°ECoordinates: 41°30′N 26°32′E / 41.500°N 26.533°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Regional unit | Evros |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 967.5 km2 (373.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Municipality | 37,695 |
| • Municipality density | 39/km2 (100/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 23,584 |
| Community[1] | |
| • Population | 20,211 (2011) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 682 00 |
| Area code(s) | 25520 |
| Vehicle registration | OP |
| Website | www.orestiada.gr |
Orestiada (Greek: Ορεστιάδα, formerly Νέα Ὀρεστιάς, Nea Orestiás, Turkish: Kumçiftliği[2]) is the northeasternmost and northernmost city of Greece and the second largest town of the Evros regional unit of Thrace. The population is around 20,000.
Geography
Orestiada lies in the plain of the river Evros, at 40 metres above sea level. Orestiada is only 6 km west of the banks of the Evros, which forms a natural border between Greece and Turkey. Orestiada is located 17 km north of Didymoteicho, 19 km south of Edirne, 28 km southeast of the Greek-Turkish-Bulgarian tripoint, 40 km southeast of Svilengrad, 91 km northeast of Alexandroupoli, and 212 km west of Istanbul. The Greek National Road 51/E85 passes 1 km to the west of Orestiada. Orestiada also has a railway station on the Thessaloniki–Svilengrad railway.
History
Orestiada is relatively recent town by Greek standards, less than 100 years old. In ancient times, there was a small settlement on this site which legends claim was founded by Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Ancient Orestiada was located in present-day Turkey, across the river from the town of Kastanies, and the site remains undeveloped. Nea Orestias or New Orestiada was founded in 1922 when the population exchange occurred between Turkey and Greece, in which the Evros River became the new border between the two countries. Because it is a relatively recent city, it is laid out on a grid plan, unlike most Greek cities.
Economy
Orestiada has a Medical Center, a Philharmonic and a Choir as well as a sugar factory, outside the city which processes locally grown sugar beets. Asparagus, potatoes, tobacco, watermelons and corn are also grown. As well, a cattle breeding fund gives commercial impetus to the city and the whole area which is in such an economically strategic location in Europe.
It is also the site of the Fylakio detention center for illegal immigrants. In November 2010, the European Union sent Frontex forces to Orestiada to help Greek police patrol the local section of the border with Turkey. Some 31,400 people crossed just that portion of the border in the first nine months of 2010.[3]
Education
In 1999, Orestiada became the fourth town to host university departments (faculties) of the Democritus University of Thrace. The faculties based in Orestiada are the Department of Agricultural Development and the Department of Forestry, Environmental Management and Natural Resources. Both faculties have a five-year curriculum. More than 800 students live in the city.
Sports
Orestias hosts two sports club with presence in the higher national divisions, Orestis Orestiadas F.C. a football club and A.C. Orestias a volleyball club, playing in A1 Ethniki.
| Sport clubs based in Orestiada | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
| Orestis Orestiadas F.C. | 1927 | Football | Earlier presence in Gamma Ethniki |
| A.C. Orestias | 1970 | Volleyball | Presence in A1 Ethniki, finalist of Greek championship and European CEV cup. |
Climate
| Climate data for Orestiada | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.0 (68) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.9 (78.6) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.0 (98.6) |
42.0 (107.6) |
43.5 (110.3) |
41.5 (106.7) |
38.6 (101.5) |
37.5 (99.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
22.0 (71.6) |
43.5 (110.3) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.7 (42.3) |
8.1 (46.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
24.7 (76.5) |
29.6 (85.3) |
32.1 (89.8) |
31.9 (89.4) |
27.0 (80.6) |
20.4 (68.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
7.0 (44.6) |
19.11 (66.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) |
3.6 (38.5) |
7.1 (44.8) |
12.4 (54.3) |
17.7 (63.9) |
22.5 (72.5) |
24.9 (76.8) |
24.4 (75.9) |
19.8 (67.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
8.0 (46.4) |
3.6 (38.5) |
13.35 (56.03) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −1.3 (29.7) |
−0.8 (30.6) |
2.3 (36.1) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.2 (63) |
17.1 (62.8) |
13.0 (55.4) |
9.0 (48.2) |
4.0 (39.2) |
0.5 (32.9) |
7.83 (46.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −16.9 (1.6) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
−15.3 (4.5) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
1.1 (34) |
6.0 (42.8) |
9.7 (49.5) |
8.9 (48) |
4.5 (40.1) |
−3.0 (26.6) |
−7.0 (19.4) |
−17.3 (0.9) |
−20.2 (−4.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 47.9 (1.886) |
52.1 (2.051) |
58.5 (2.303) |
43.4 (1.709) |
41.3 (1.626) |
47.8 (1.882) |
24.9 (0.98) |
17.9 (0.705) |
36.5 (1.437) |
52.0 (2.047) |
79.2 (3.118) |
65.7 (2.587) |
567.2 (22.331) |
| Average precipitation days | 11.8 | 10.1 | 10.9 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 8.9 | 6.2 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 11.8 | 106.5 |
| Average snowy days | 3.5 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 10.6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82.0 | 78.0 | 72.0 | 66.0 | 65.0 | 60.0 | 56.0 | 55.0 | 61.0 | 72.0 | 80.0 | 82.0 | 69.1 |
| Source: Orestiada Weather [4] | |||||||||||||
Municipality
The municipality Orestiada was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[5]
Communities
The municipal unit Orestiada is subdivided into the following communities (constituent settlements in brackets):
- Orestiada (Orestiada, Lepti, Neos Pyrgos, Palaia Sagini, Sakkos)
- Ampelakia
- Chandras
- Megali Doxipara
- Neo Cheimonio
- Neochori (Neochori, Patagi)
- Thourio
- Valtos
Province
The province of Orestiada (Greek: Επαρχία Ορεστιάδας) was one of the provinces of the Evros Prefecture. It had the same territory as the present municipality.[6] It was abolished in 2006.
Population
| Year | town | municipal community | municipal unit (Kapodistrias) | municipality (Kallikratis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 7,719 | 12,832 | 17,825 | 43,929 |
| 1961 | 10,281 | 12,908 | 19,441 | 48,821 |
| 1971 | 10,727 | 12,513 | 17,637 | 40,869 |
| 1981 | 12,685 | 14,727 | 20,297 | 43,141 |
| 1991 | 12,691 | 14,783 | 19,669 | 40,821 |
| 2001 | 15,246 | 17,194 | 21,730 | 39,485 |
| 2011 | 18,426 | 20,211 | 23,584 | 37,695 |
The population of the settlements within the municipal community of Orestiada at the 2011 census was:
- Orestiada 18,426
- Lepti 641
- Neos Pyrgos 943
- Palaia Sagini 15
- Sakkos 186
See also
- List of settlements in the Evros regional unit
- Lefteris Hapsiadis Popular Song Orestiada
References
- 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- ↑ http://www.cemvakfi.org.tr/balkanlarda-alevilik-bektasilik/yunanistan-gezi-notlari/
- ↑ "Ailing Greece Struggles with a Flood of Illegal Immigrants". Yahoo News. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ↑ "Mean Orestiada Climatic Averages". Orestiada Weather. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
- ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
- ↑ "Detailed census results 1991" (PDF). (39 MB) (Greek) (French)
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Vyssa | | ||
| Kyprinos |  |
Edirne (Turkey) | ||
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 | ||||
| Metaxades | Didymoteicho |
Administrative division of the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit of Drama |  | |
| Regional unit of Evros | ||
| Regional unit of Kavala | ||
| Regional unit of Rhodope | ||
| Regional unit of Thasos | ||
| Regional unit of Xanthi | ||
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