Orestiada
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- For the eponymous lake, see Lake Orestiada.
| Orestiada Ορεστιάδα |
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|---|---|
| Location | |
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| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Periphery: | East Macedonia and Thrace |
| Prefecture: | Evros |
| Population statistics (as of 2001[1]) | |
| City Proper | |
| - Population: | 21,730 |
| Codes | |
| Postal: | 682 00 |
| Area: | 25520 |
| Auto: | OP |
| Website | |
| www.orestiada.gr | |
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Orestiada (Greek, Modern: Ορεστιάδα, Ancient Katharevousa: Orestias) is the northeasternmost and northernmost city of Greece and the capital of the Orestiada Province, as well as the seconds largest city of Evros prefecture. The population is around 25,000. Orestiada is only 2 km west of the Evros river which is a natural border between Greece and Turkey. Orestiada is located 23 km S of Edirne, about 64 km SE from the Greek-Turkish-Bulgarian border, 66 km SE of Svilengrad, about 110 km N of Alexandroupoli, N of Didymoteicho, ENE of Soufli, about 110 km ENE of Alexandroupoli and 460 km ENE of Thessaloniki.
The street plan of the city is gridded and runs almost parallel from east to west and north to south. GR-51/E85 once ran through Orestiada, which today is bypassed 1 km to the west.
The area of Orestiada is among the most fertile and productive areas of Greece, with countryside that is distinguished for its beauty and richness. It borders with Bulgaria to the west and north, with Turkey to the east and north and with Didimoteicho Province to the south.
It is a modern and contemporary city, only 75 years old. Of course, since 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 is located in Turkey across the river from the town of Kastanies (Chestnut Trees). 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. The site of the original Orestiada was founded around 3000 years ago and remains fairly undeveloped as it is near the much larger city of Edirne.
Orestiada has a train station, a Medical Centre, a Philharmonic and a Choir as well as a sugar factory, outside the city which processes locally grown sugar beets. Sparrowgrass, 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 far eastern Europe.
In 1999, Orestiada became the fourth city to host university departments (faculties) of the Democritus University of Thrace. The faculties based in Orestiada are the Department of Rural 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.
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Communal population | Change | Municipal population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 14,727 | - | - |
| 1991 | 12,691 | -2,036/-13.82% | 19,669 |
[edit] External links
- Mapquest - Orestiada, street map not yet available
- Coordinates:
| Northwest: Kyprinos | North: Vyssa | |
| West: Kyprinos and Metaxades | Orestiada | East: Turkey |
| Southwest: Metaxades | South: Didymoteicho |
[edit] See also
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