Gevgelija

Gevgelija (Macedonian: Гевгелија [ɡɛvˈɡɛlija] ( listen)) is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the Republic of Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece (Bogorodica-Evzoni), the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three other former Yugoslav capitals (Belgrade, Zagreb and Ljubljana) with Thessaloniki. The town is the seat of Gevgelija Municipality. The town is fraternized with the Slovenian town of Sežana.

Name

In Macedonian the town is called Gevgelija (Гевгелија). It is known as Gevgeli in Turkish, Gevgelí (Γευγελή) in Greek, Gevgeli (Гевгели) in Bulgarian and Đevđelija (Ђевђелија) in Serbian.

Demographics

The town of Gevgelija has 15,685 residents, most of whom are Macedonians.

Geography

Located between the mountains Kozuf and Pajak only 70 km from Thessaloniki and 165 km from Skopje, the town acts as a rail depot between the two countries, making it a central location in its region. Its position in the south of the country gives it a warm, Mediterranean climate, making it the optimal location in the Republic of Macedonia for cultivation of fruits and vegetables such as figs, lemons, and grapes. The town is also a centre for raising silkworms, an integral part of the country's silk trade. Alongside its agriculture, Gevgelija's economy consists of a light industry sector. Tourism is growing, with a spa located in a nearby village.

Gevgelija has recently seen the construction of a number of casinos in the city itself and its surroundings.

Sister cities

Gevgelija is twinned with:

See also

• Vardarski Rid

References