Maritsa: Difference between revisions

| name_nativenative_name = {{lang-native name list |tag1=bg|name1=Марица}}<br/>{{lang- |tag2=el|name2=Έβρος}}<br/>{{lang- |tag3=tr|name3=Meriç}}

| image_caption = The source valley of the Maritsa river in the Rila Mountains with [[Marichini Lakes]]

'''Maritsa''' or '''Maritza''' ({{lang-langx|bg|Марица}} {{IPA-|bg|mɐˈrit͡sɐ|}}), also known as '''MeriçEvros''' ({{lang-trlangx|Meriçel|Έβρος}} {{IPA-trel|meɾit͡ʃˈevros|}}) orand '''EvrosMeriç''' ({{lang-elllangx|Έβροςtr|Meriç}} {{IPA-el|ˈevrostr|meɾit͡ʃ|}}), is a [[river]] that runs through the [[Balkans]] in Southeast Europe. With a length of {{convert|480|km|mi|abbr=on}},<ref name=Yearbook>[http://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/publications/God2017.pdf Statistical Yearbook 2017], [[National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria)]], p. 17</ref> it is the [[List of rivers of Europe|longest river]] that runs solely in the interior of the [[Balkans|Balkan peninsula]], and one of the [[List of rivers of Europe#Rivers of Europe by discharge|largest in Europe by discharge]]. It originates in the [[Rila|Rila mountains]] and flows through [[Bulgaria]] in its upper and middle reaches, while its lower course forms much of the border between [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]]. Its [[drainage area]] is about {{convert|53000|km2|abbr=on}}, of which 66.2% is in Bulgaria, 27.5% in Turkey, and 6.3% in Greece.<ref name=ypeka>[{{cite web|url=http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=T4DDG1hqQMY%3D&tabid=252&language=el-GR |title=Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment],|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215192049/http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=T4DDG1hqQMY%3D&tabid=252&language=el-GR|archive-date=15 February 2020|language=el|publisher=Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, p. |page=90}}</ref> It is the main river of the historical region of [[Thrace]], most of which lies in its [[drainage basin]].

It has its origin in the [[Rila Mountains]] in Western Bulgaria, its source being the [[BulgariaMarichini Lakes]],. flowingThe Maritsa flows east-southeast between the [[Balkan Mountains|Balkan]] and [[Rhodope Mountains]], past [[Plovdiv]] and [[ParvomayDimitrovgrad, Bulgaria|Dimitrovgrad]] (wherein the Mechka and the Kayaliyka join it)Bulgaria to [[Edirne]], [[in Turkey]]. East of [[Svilengrad]], Bulgaria, the river flows eastwards, forming the border between Bulgaria (on the north bank) and Greece (on the south bank), and then between Turkey and Greece. At Edirne, the river meets it two chief tributaries [[Tundzha]] and [[Arda (Maritsa)|Arda]], and flows through Turkish territory on both banks,. It then turns towards the south and forms the border between Greece on the west bank and Turkey on the east bank toall the [[Aegeanway Sea]]. Turkey was given a small sector onto the west bank opposite the city of Edirne. Maritsa then flows past [[Kastanies]],Aegean [[PythioSea]], [[Didymoteicho]]which and [[Lavara]] in Greece. Itit enters the Aegean near [[Enez]], where it formsforming a [[river delta]]. The [[Tundzha]] is its chief tributary; the [[Arda (Maritsa)|Arda]] is another one. The lower course of the Maritsa/Evros forms part of the Bulgarian–Greek border and most of the [[Greece–Turkey border|Greek–Turkish border]]. The upper Maritsa valley is a principal east–west route in Bulgaria. The unnavigable river is used for hydroelectric power productiongeneration and irrigation.

==EtymologyNames==

The earliest known name of the river is ''Euros''{{Lang|grc|Εύρος|italic=yes}} (''Εύρος''{{transl|grc|Euros}}, [[Alcman]], 7th–6th century BC).<ref name="georg">{{cite book|last1=Georgiev|first1=Vladimir Ivanov Georgiev|title=Introduction to the History of the Indo-European Languages (1981, p. 351)|year=1981|publisher=Publishing House of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences |isbn=9789535172611|url=https://books.google.com/books?hl=bg&id=xmZiAAAAMAAJ&dqq=Alcman}}</ref> [[Proto-Indo-European ''language|Proto-Indo-European]] {{Lang|ine-x-proto|*ewru''h₁wérus|italic=yes}} and [[Ancient Greek]] ''εύρύs''{{lang|grc|εὐρύς}} meant "wide".<ref name="georg" /> The Proto-Indo-European "wr"[[consonant soundcluster]] *''-wr-'' shifted in [[Thracian language|Thracian]] to "''-br"-'', creating the Thracian name ''{{lang|txh|Ebros''}}.<ref name="georg" /> Thereafter, the river began to be known as ''Hébros'' ({{lang|grc|Ἕβρος}} ({{transl|grc|Hébros}}) in Greek and ''{{Lang|la|Hebrus''|italic=yes}} in Latin.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Florov|first1=Nicholas|last2=Florov|first2=Irina|title=Three-thousand-year-old Hat|year=2001|location=Michigan University|isbn=9780968848708|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6kZoAAAAMAAJ&q=evros+original+thracian+river&dq=evros+original+thracian+river&hl=bg&sa=X&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAGoVChMImJnX9rbtxgIVhJdyCh0wWwlI}}</ref> Rather than an origin as "'wide river"', an alternative hypothesis is that Hebrosis meantborrowed "goat"from in [[Thracian language{{Lang|Thracian]]txh|ebros|italic=yes}} meaning 'splasher'.<ref>{{citeCite webbook|titlelast=The Plovdiv ProjectDuridanov|first=Ivan|url=httphttps://theplovdivprojectwww.tumblrworldcat.com/postorg/109036573725oclc/reka18925921|title=Die Sprache der Thraker|date=1985|publisher=Hieronymus Verlag|isbn=978-maritsa3-hebros88893-original031-name7|location=Neuried|oclc=18925921}}</ref>

While the name ''Έβρος''{{lang|grc|Ἕβρος}} (Hebros{{transl|grc|Hébros}}) was used in [[Ancient Greek]], the name ''{{lang|grc|Μαρίτσα''}} ({{transl|grc|Maritsa}}) had become standard before the ancient form ''Έβρος'' (now: Évros){{lang|grc|Ἕβρος}} was artificially restituted in [[Modern Greek]] as {{lang|el|Έβρος}} (now: {{transl|el|Évros}}).<ref>Schramm, Gottfried (1981): Eroberer und Eingesessene. Geographische Lehnnamen als Zeugen der Geschichte Südosteuropas im ersten Jahrtausend n. Chr. Stuttgart: Hiersemann., pp.290f. Referenced in Carsten Peust, [https://bop.unibe.ch/linguistik-online/article/view/1749/2969#_ftn71 How Old Are the River Names of Europe?], Linguistik Online, 2015</ref> The name ''{{transl|grc|Maritsa''}} may derive from a mountain near the mouth of the river known in antiquity as ''{{lang|grc|Μηρισός''}} or ''{{lang|grc|Μήριζος''}}, Latinized as {{lang|la|Merit(h)us}}.<ref name=georg/>{{Verify credibility?|date=October 2021|reason=This sentence is a direct quote from the source, but no other source for this etymological relationship or the existence of a mountain with this name can be found. See Talk page}}

In 1371, the river was the site of the [[Battle of Maritsa]], also known as the battle of Chernomen, an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] victory over the [[SerbsSerbia|Serbian]]. rulers [[Vukašin Mrnjavčević]] and [[Jovan Uglješa]], who died in the battle.

In February 2020, Turkey unilaterally opened its borders to Greece to allow refugees and migrants seeking refuge to reach the European Union, leading to the [[2020 Greek–Turkish border crisis]].<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/turkish-police-bolster-greek-border-stop-migrants-return-200305114014230.html Turkish police bolster Greek border to stop migrants' return]. 6 March 2020.</ref><ref>[https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/03/01/greece-defends-borders-as-erdogan-opens-the-gates-live-updates/ Greece Defends Borders as Erdogan Opens the Gates: Live Updates]. 1 March 2020.</ref> In May 2020, news emerged that Turkish forces occupied a {{convert|16|acres|ha}} of Greek territory, Melissokomeio, as shown on maps of 1923, following a change in the flow of the Maritsa/Evros river.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/252956/article/ekathimerini/news/athens-lodges-demarche-with-ankara-over-evros-dispute|title=Athens lodges demarche with Ankara over Evros dispute|website=ekathimerini.com|date=22 May 2020}}</ref> These crises passed following the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations in 2023, however, illegal migration is still a major issue.

The lower course of the river Maritsa/Evros, where it forms the border ofbetween Greece and Turkey, is very vulnerable to flooding. For about 4 months every year, the low lands around the river are flooded. This causes significant economic damage (loss of agricultural production and damage to infrastructure), which is estimated at several hundreds million Euro.<ref name=nivol>[http://www.wseas.us/e-library/conferences/2012/Sliema/NACGURES/NACGURES-01.pdf Environmental management of big riverine floods: the case of Evros River in Greece], Z. Nivolianitou, B. Synodinou</ref>

Recent large floods tookhave taken place in 2006, 2007, 2014, with the [[2021 Evros floods|largest flood taking place in 2021]]. Several causes have been proposed:, including more rainfall due to climate change, deforestation in the Bulgarian part of the catchment area, increased land use in the flood plains and difficult communication between the three countries.<ref name=nivol/>

==HonoursTrivia==

File:ΔΕΛΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΒΡΟΥ 20.jpg|thumb|Boat on the delta.