1. HISTORICAL INFORMATION
ABOUT EVROS RIVER AND EVROS DELTA
Evros River was known as “Romvos” in mythology. It
took its name after Evros, son of Cassander, king of
Thrace, who drowned in its waters, after having been
defamed by his stepmother because he has rejected her
love. Cassander, who did not believe Evros, pulled out his
sword to kill him. Evros, who could not avoid death,
plunged into the river waters and drowned. Evros River
was also named by Euripides as “argiroritis” (silver-
carrier) because it crossed and integrated the land making
it rich and fertile. It is finally worth mentioning that
during the Persian wars Xerxes, supplied and offered some
rest to his army next to Evros River; an incident revealing
the great richness of the river.
Nowadays, Evros River is called “Maritsa” by the Turks
and Bulgarians. This name is
mentioned for the first time
by Isaak Comnenos who
erected the monastery Virgin
Kosmosoteira (Saviour of the
world). However, there is
another version. The Slavs

2. trace the etymology of the name Maritsa to Moritsi or
Movaritsi which according to the Slavic language means
peace and tranquility.
In the southeastern part
of Evros prefecture, next to
the border with Turkey,
Evros River creates an
extensive delta with a total
surface are of 188km2.
Evros River is the second
biggest river in Eastern
Europe and is
characterized by the large
amount of sediment that it transfers and deposits on its
delta. Evros River springs from the mountains of Rila in
Bulgaria. The total length of the river is 528km, of which
310 km belong to Bulgaria, while 218km determine the
borders of Greece with the countries of Bulgaria and
Turkey.
Evros Delta is an important wetland on a national,
European and international level. For many years it is a
Protected Area, as it has a big value for wildlife and
humanity. In Evros Delta hundreds of thousands of birds
find shelter and food all year round, while it constitutes a
very important natural resource for the local community,
because of its value for fishing, stock breeding, agriculture,
climate, flood protection,
education, recreation and
science.