# Maritsa
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{{Short description|River in the Balkans}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Maritsa
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=bg|name1=Марица |tag2=el|name2=Έβρος |tag3=tr|name3={{noitalic|Meriç}}}}
| name_other = Hebrus, {{lang|tr|Meriç|italic=no}}
| name_etymology =
| image = Maritsaorigin2.JPG
| image_caption = The source valley of the Maritsa river in the Rila Mountains with [Marichini Lakes](/source/Marichini_Lakes)
| source1_location = [Rila Mountains](/source/Rila_Mountains), Bulgaria
| mouth_location = [Aegean Sea](/source/Aegean_Sea), {{convert|14.5|km|abbr=on}} east of [Alexandroupoli](/source/Alexandroupoli)
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|40|43|50|N|26|2|6|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type1 = Countries
| subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|[Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria)|[Greece](/source/Greece)|[Turkey](/source/Turkey)}}
| length_km = 480
| source1_elevation = {{convert|2,378|m|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = for mouth {{convert|234|m3/s|abbr=on}}[[http://www.inweb.gr/workshops2/sub_basins/13_14_15_Evros_Ardas_Ergene.html inweb.gr]]
| basin_size_km2 = 53,000
| basin_size_ref = [
}}
thumb|290px|right|Map of the river
The '''Maritsa''',{{efn|{{blist|{{langx|bg|Марица|Marica}}, {{IPA|bg|mɐˈɾit͡sɐ|pron}}|{{langx|ro|Marița}}, {{IPA|ro|maˈrit͡sa|pron}}|{{langx|el|Μαρίτσα|Marítsa}}, {{IPA|el|maˈɾits̠a|pron}}}}}} known in [Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) as the '''Evros'''{{efn|{{blist|{{langx|grc|Ἕβρος|Hébros}}, {{IPA|grc|ˈhebros|pron}}|{{langx|el|Έβρος|Evros|label=[Modern Greek](/source/Modern_Greek)}}, {{IPA|el|ˈevɾos̠|pron}}|{{langx|la|Hebrus}}, {{IPA|la|ˈhɛbrʊs|pron}}}}}} and in [Turkish](/source/Turkish_language) as the '''{{lang|tr|Meriç|italic=no}}''', is a [river](/source/river) that runs through the [Balkans](/source/Balkans) in Southeast Europe. With a length of {{convert|480|km|mi|abbr=on}},][[http://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/publications/God2017.pdf Statistical Yearbook 2017], [National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria)](/source/National_Statistical_Institute_(Bulgaria)), p. 17] it is the [longest river](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Europe) that runs solely in the interior of the [Balkan peninsula](/source/Balkans), and one of the [largest in Europe by discharge](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Europe). It flows through [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria) in its upper and middle reaches, while its lower course forms part of the border between [Greece](/source/Greece) and [Turkey](/source/Turkey). Its [drainage area](/source/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.[{{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 |page=90}}] It is the main river of the historical region of [Thrace](/source/Thrace), most of which lies in its [drainage basin](/source/drainage_basin).
It has its origin in the [Rila Mountains](/source/Rila_Mountains) in Western Bulgaria, its source being the [Marichini Lakes](/source/Marichini_Lakes). The Maritsa flows east-southeast between the [Balkan](/source/Balkan_Mountains) and [Rhodope Mountains](/source/Rhodope_Mountains), past [Plovdiv](/source/Plovdiv) and [Dimitrovgrad](/source/Dimitrovgrad%2C_Bulgaria) in Bulgaria to [Edirne](/source/Edirne) in Turkey. East of [Svilengrad](/source/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 its two chief tributaries [Tundzha](/source/Tundzha) and [Arda](/source/Arda_(Maritsa)), 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 all the way to the [Aegean Sea](/source/Aegean_Sea), which it enters near [Enez](/source/Enez), forming a [river delta](/source/river_delta). The upper Maritsa valley is a principal east–west route in Bulgaria. The unnavigable river is used for hydroelectric power generation and for irrigation.
==Names==
The earliest known name of the river is {{Lang|grc|Εύρος|italic=yes}} ({{Transliteration|grc|Euros}}, [Alcman](/source/Alcman), 7th–6th century BC).[{{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?id=xmZiAAAAMAAJ&q=Alcman}}] [Proto-Indo-European](/source/Proto-Indo-European_language) {{Lang|ine-x-proto|*h₁wérus|italic=yes}} and [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek) {{lang|grc|εὐρύς}} meant 'wide'.[{{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}}] Rather than an origin as 'wide river', an alternative hypothesis is that is borrowed from Thracian {{Lang|txh|ebros|italic=yes}} meaning 'splasher'.[{{Cite book|last=Duridanov|first=Ivan|title=Die Sprache der Thraker|date=1985|publisher=Hieronymus Verlag|isbn=978-3-88893-031-7|location=Neuried|oclc=18925921}}]
While the name {{lang|grc|Ἕβρος}} ({{Transliteration|grc|Hébros}}) was used in [Ancient Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek), the name {{lang|grc|Μαρίτσα}} ({{Transliteration|grc|Marítsa}}) had become standard before the ancient form {{lang|grc|Ἕβρος}} was restituted in [Modern Greek](/source/Modern_Greek) as {{lang|el|Έβρος}} (now: {{IPA|el|ˈevɾos̠|}}).[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] The name {{Transliteration|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}}.[{{Unreliable source?|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.}}
==History==
In 1371, the river was the site of the [Battle of Maritsa](/source/Battle_of_Maritsa), also known as the battle of Chernomen, an [Ottoman](/source/Ottoman_Empire) victory over the [Serbia](/source/Serbia)n rulers [Vukašin Mrnjavčević](/source/Vuka%C5%A1in_Mrnjav%C4%8Devi%C4%87) and [Jovan Uglješa](/source/Jovan_Uglje%C5%A1a), who died in the battle.
After 1923, the river gained political significance as the modern border between [Greece](/source/Greece) and [Turkey](/source/Turkey). This was further bolstered by Greece joining the [European Union](/source/European_Union) in 1981 (and then the [Schengen area](/source/Schengen_Area)), marking the river as an external boundary of the EU.
Since the 1990s, the river, as a natural barrier on the border between Turkey and Greece, has become a major route for [migrants](/source/Immigration) from a variety of countries attempting to enter the [EU](/source/EU) irregularly.][[https://web.archive.org/web/20110518042943/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/culture/evros-the-immigrants-gateway/9327/ Evros: The immigrants' gateway]. PBS.org, May 16, 2011.] Between 2000 and 2019, 398 bodies were found on the Greek side of the Maritsa/Evros river. Up until that time, drowning in the river was the leading cause of death among migrants trying to enter Greece.[{{cite journal |last1=Pavlidis |first1=Pavlos |last2=Karakasi |first2=Maria-Valeria |title=Greek land borders and migration fatalities - Humanitarian disaster described from the standpoint of Evros |journal=Forensic Science International |date=2019 |volume=302 |article-number=109875 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109875 |pmid=31378400 |s2cid=199438113 |issn=1872-6283}}]
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](/source/2020_Greek%E2%80%93Turkish_border_crisis).[[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.][[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.] In May 2020, news emerged that Turkish forces occupied {{convert|16|acres|ha}} of Greek territory, Melissokomeio, as shown on maps of 1923, following a change in the flow of the river.[{{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}}] These crises passed following the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations in 2023, however, illegal migration is still a major issue.
==Tributaries==
[[File:Maritsa river 02.jpg|thumb|The middle course of the Maritsa River at [Nova Nadezhda](/source/Nova_Nadezhda), Bulgaria]]
[[File:Meriç_Köprüsü_ve_Meriç_Nehri.jpg|thumb|The Meriç River at [Edirne](/source/Edirne)]]
Starting from the river's source, significant tributaries of Maritsa include:
*Left tributaries:
**[Topolnitsa](/source/Topolnitsa_River) (flows into Maritsa near [Pazardzhik](/source/Pazardzhik))
**[Luda Yana](/source/Luda_Yana) (near [Ognyanovo](/source/Ognyanovo%2C_Pazardzhik_Province))
**[Stryama](/source/Stryama) (near [Sadovo](/source/Sadovo))
**[Sazliyka](/source/Sazliyka) (near [Simeonovgrad](/source/Simeonovgrad))
**[Tundzha](/source/Tundzha)/Tunca (in [Edirne](/source/Edirne))
**[Ergene](/source/Ergene) (near [İpsala](/source/%C4%B0psala))
*Right tributaries:
**[Chepinska reka](/source/Chepinska_reka) (near [Septemvri](/source/Septemvri))
**[Vacha](/source/Vacha_(river)) (near [Stamboliyski](/source/Stamboliyski))
**[Chepelarska reka](/source/Chepelarska_reka) (near Sadovo)
**[Harmanliyska reka](/source/Harmanliyska_reka) (near [Harmanli](/source/Harmanli))
**[Arda](/source/Arda_(Maritsa))/Ardas (near Edirne)
**[Erythropotamos](/source/Erythropotamos)/Luda reka (near [Didymoteicho](/source/Didymoteicho))
==Floods==
thumb|March-2005 Maritsa river floods, Greek side, close to Lavara village.
thumb|Satellite image of floods along the river in 2006.
The lower course of the river Maritsa, where it forms the border between 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.[[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]
Recent large floods have taken place in 2006, 2007, 2014, with the [largest flood taking place in 2021](/source/2021_Evros_floods). 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.[
==Trivia==
[Maritsa Peak](/source/Maritsa_Peak) on [Livingston Island](/source/Livingston_Island) in the [South Shetland Islands](/source/South_Shetland_Islands), [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica) is named after Maritsa River.
''La Maritza'' is also a 1968 song written by [Jean Renard](/source/%3Afr%3AJean_Renard_(auteur-compositeur)) and [Pierre Delanoë](/source/Pierre_Delano%C3%AB) and interpreted by [Sylvie Vartan](/source/Sylvie_Vartan).
[Hebrus Valles](/source/Hebrus_Valles) on [Mars](/source/Mars) is named after this river.
The Bulgarian [Maritsa motorway](/source/Maritsa_motorway), which roughly follows the course of the river from [Chirpan](/source/Chirpan) (where it branches out of the [Trakia motorway](/source/Trakia_motorway)) to the Turkish border at [Kapitan Andreevo](/source/Kapitan_Andreevo), is also named in honour of the river.
[Shumi Maritsa](/source/Shumi_Maritsa), the [national anthem](/source/national_anthem) of [Bulgaria](/source/Bulgaria) from 1886 to 1947, has its title refer to the river. The lyrics describe the river being bloody after fighting.
==Gallery==
File:MaricaRiveratHarmanli.jpg|Spring [freshet](/source/freshet) of Maritsa River at [Harmanli](/source/Harmanli)
File:Maritsa.jpg|View from the river, Edirne.
File:Meriç River.jpg|The river viewed from Turkey. Greek land visible on the right.
File:ΔΕΛΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΒΡΟΥ 20.jpg|Boat on the delta.
==References==
{{commons category|Maritsa}}
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
===Citations===
{{reflist}}
===Sources===
* {{cite book |title=Българска енциклопедия А-Я |publisher=БАН, Труд, Сирма |language=Bulgarian |year=2002 |chapter=МАРИЦА (антично име: Хеброс, Хебър) |isbn=954-8104-08-3 |oclc=163361648 }}
==Further reading==
* SKOULIKIDIS, NIKOLAOS TH., STAMATIS ZOGARIS, AND IOANNIS KARAOUZAS. Rivers of the Balkans. In Klement Tockner, Christiane Zarfl, and Christopher T. Robinson (eds.), Rivers of Europe, 2nd Ed. Cambridge, MA: Elsevier, 2022, pp. 593–654. ISBN 978-0-08-102612-0
{{Authority control}}
Category:Maritsa
Category:Rivers of Bulgaria
Category:Rivers of Turkey
Category:International rivers of Europe
Category:Bulgaria–Greece border
Category:Greece–Turkey border
Category:Landforms of Edirne Province
Category:Landforms of Evros (regional unit)
Category:Rivers of Pazardzhik Province
Category:Rivers of Plovdiv Province
Category:Rivers of Haskovo Province
Category:Rivers of Sofia Province
Category:Rivers of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
Category:Border rivers
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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Maritsa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritsa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritsa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.
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