{{Short description|Mountain pass in Rhodope Mountains connecting Bulgaria and Greece}}
{{Infobox mountain pass | name = Makaza | other_name = | photo = | photo_caption = | elevation_m = 682 | traversed = I-5 road (Bulgaria), European route E85 | map = Balkans | location = Bulgaria, Greece | range = Rhodope Mountains | coordinates = {{coord|41.2652|N|25.4292|E|region:BG}} }}
'''Makaza''' ({{langx|bg|Маказа}}, {{langx|el|Μακάζα}}), previously also known as '''Balkan Toresi''', is a mountain pass in the Eastern Rhodope Mountains, connecting southernmost central Bulgaria with north-easternmost Greece and thus the regions of Northern and Western Thrace. The Makaza pass forms part of Pan-European Corridor IX,<ref name="dnevnik">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2013/09/09/2136660_otkriva_se_granichniiat_punkt_makaza_kum_gurciia/|title=Открива се граничният пункт "Маказа" към Гърция|date=2013-09-09|work=Дневник|publisher=Икономедиа АД|language=Bulgarian|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> connecting Helsinki in Finland with the Greek port of Alexandroupolis on the Aegean Sea.<ref name="novinite">{{cite news|url=http://www.novinite.com/articles/153477/Bulgaria%2C+Greece+Officially+Open+Makaza+Border+Point|title=Bulgaria, Greece Officially Open Makaza Border Point|date=2013-09-09|work=Novinite|publisher=Sofia News Agency|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> The international border between Bulgaria and Greece lies at the highest point of the pass, at {{convert|682|m|ft}} above sea level.<ref name="angelova">{{cite news|url=http://www.standartnews.com/biznes-biznes/makaza_otprishti_nadezhdi_za_hlyab-203867.html|title=Маказа отприщи надежди за хляб|last=Ангелова|first=Ирина|date=2013-09-09|work=Стандарт|publisher="Стандарт нюз" АД|language=Bulgarian|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref>
The Makaza pass runs from the Bulgarian village of Strizhba in Kirkovo municipality, Kardzhali Province, to the Greek town of Komotini, the capital of the East Macedonia and Thrace region. Thus, it provides quick access from central Bulgaria to the Aegean Sea, some {{convert|30|km|mi}} from Komotini, and to the A2 motorway (Egnatia Odos).<ref name="angelova"/> The distance from Kardzhali to Komotini via Makaza is around {{convert|70|km|mi}} and takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes by car.<ref name="stanev">{{cite news|url=http://www.24chasa.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=2290657|title=Гърците притеснени от отварянето на Маказа|last=Станев|first=Ненко|date=2013-09-10|work=24 часа|publisher=Вестникарска група България|language=Bulgarian|accessdate=13 September 2013}}</ref> The pass goes through a metamorphic rock saddle which separates the Maglenik and Gyumyurdzhinski Snezhnik ridges of the Eastern Rhodopes.<ref name="ban">{{cite book |title=Българска енциклопедия А–Я |publisher=БАН, Труд, Сирма |language=Bulgarian |year=2002 |chapter=МАКАЗА |isbn=9548104083 |oclc=163361648 }}</ref>
On {{OldStyleDate|20 November|1912|7 November}}, the Makaza pass was the site of a major battle of the First Balkan War, the Battle of Balkan Toresi, a Bulgarian victory over the Ottomans which solidified Bulgarian control over the Eastern Rhodopes and led to the Bulgarian invasion of Western Thrace.<ref name="angelova"/> The pass had been closed since the end of World War II, when Bulgaria and Greece ended up on different sides of the Iron Curtain. Efforts to reopen the pass recommenced in 1995 and the construction of new roads started around a decade later.<ref name="stoyanov">{{cite news|url=http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=2292239|title=Кой ще спечели повече от прохода Маказа|last=Стоянов|first=Андрей|date=2013-09-11|work=Труд|publisher=Вестникарска група България|language=Bulgarian|accessdate=13 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713161803/http://www.trud.bg/Article.asp?ArticleId=2292239|archive-date=13 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The new roads over the pass and the Makaza–Nymfaia border checkpoint were opened for traffic on 9 September 2013. The Makaza checkpoint is only open for cars and light trucks (up to 3.5 tonnes) until the road connecting the checkpoint to the A2 motorway is completed. Border control is carried out once per crossing (jointly by the Bulgarian and Greek side),<ref name="dnevnik"/> shortening control times down to an estimated 2–3 minutes. The new border checkpoint is expected to boost economic ties and tourism between the neighbouring regions of the two countries.<ref name="angelova"/><ref name="stoyanov"/><ref name="standart">{{cite news|url=http://www.standartnews.com/english/read/border_crossing_makazanymfaia_opened-557.html|title=Border crossing Makaza-Nymfaia opened|date=2013-09-09|work=Standart|publisher="Стандарт нюз" АД|accessdate=13 September 2013|archive-date=2014-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809081144/http://www.standartnews.com/english/read/border_crossing_makazanymfaia_opened-557.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="mfa">{{cite news|url=http://www.mfa.government.bg/en/events/6/1/980/index.html|title=Upcoming opening of the border checkpoint " Makaza Nymfaia "|date=2013-09-03|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria|accessdate=13 September 2013|archive-date=2013-09-13|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130913151804/http://www.mfa.government.bg/en/events/6/1/980/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Makaza–Nymfaia is the sixth functioning border checkpoint between Bulgaria and Greece, along with Kulata–Promachonas, Ilinden–Exochi, Zlatograd–Thermes, Ivaylovgrad–Kyprinos, and Svilengrad–Ormenio.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.capital.bg/multimedia/fotogalerii/2013/09/13/2139882_fotogaleriia_granichniiat_punkt_makaza_prez_1997_g_i/ Photo gallery of the Makaza pass and surrounding area in 1997 and 2013] {{in lang|bg}}
{{coord|41.2652|N|25.4292|E|display=title|region:BG_type:landmark}}
Category:Bulgaria–Greece border crossings Category:Landforms of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Category:Landforms of Kardzhali Province Category:Mountain passes of Bulgaria Category:Mountain passes of Greece Category:Rhodope Mountains Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 2013 Category:Landforms of Rhodope (regional unit)