Drama Prefecture
Encyclopedia
Drama is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace
. Its capital is the town of Drama
. The regional unit is the northernmost within the geographical region
of Macedonia and the westernmost in the administrative region of East Macedonia and Thrace. The northern border with Bulgaria
is formed by the Rhodope Mountains
.
in the north (at 2232m the highest point of the regional unit), the western Rhodope Mountains
in the northeast and Menoikio in the southwest. The Nestos is the longest river, flowing in the northeast. The northern portion holds a unique treasure known as Karantere
(or Forest of Elatia).
Drama is surrounded by the regional units of Xanthi to the east, Kavala to the south, Serres to the southwest and to the west, and the Bulgaria
n provinces of Blagoevgrad
and Smolyan
to the north. Arable lands are located in the southern and the westcentral portion of Drama.
The southern part mainly has a Mediterranean climate. The climate is more continental with cold winters in higher elevations and in the northern part.
East Macedonia and Thrace
East Macedonia and Thrace is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It consists of the northeastern parts of the country, comprising the eastern part of the region of Macedonia along with the region of Thrace, and the islands of Thasos and Samothrace....
. Its capital is the town of Drama
Drama, Greece
Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the...
. The regional unit is the northernmost within the geographical region
Regions of Greece
The traditional geographic divisions of Greece were also the official administrative subdivisions of Greece until the 1987 administrative reform )...
of Macedonia and the westernmost in the administrative region of East Macedonia and Thrace. The northern border with Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
is formed by the Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
.
Geography
The northern part of the regional unit, bordering Bulgaria, is very mountainous. The main mountain ranges are Orvilos ( - Slavyanka) in the northwest, FalakroFalakro
Falakro Oros is a mountain in northern Greece, in the prefecture of Drama, Greece. A ski resort is available...
in the north (at 2232m the highest point of the regional unit), the western Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
The Rhodopes are a mountain range in Southeastern Europe, with over 83% of its area in southern Bulgaria and the remainder in Greece. Its highest peak, Golyam Perelik , is the seventh highest Bulgarian mountain...
in the northeast and Menoikio in the southwest. The Nestos is the longest river, flowing in the northeast. The northern portion holds a unique treasure known as Karantere
Karantere
Karantere is a mostly forested area located in the central and northern parts of the Drama Prefecture in Greek Macedonia that extends along the Greek-Βulgarian border. Karantere is 90% covered by the forest of Elatia and contains the forest village of Elatia...
(or Forest of Elatia).
Drama is surrounded by the regional units of Xanthi to the east, Kavala to the south, Serres to the southwest and to the west, and the Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n provinces of Blagoevgrad
Blagoevgrad Province
Blagoevgrad Province , also known as Pirin Macedonia , is a province of southwestern Bulgaria. It borders four other Bulgarian provinces to the north and east, Greece to the south, and the Republic of Macedonia to the west. The province has 14 municipalities with 12 towns...
and Smolyan
Smolyan Province
-Religion:The Smolyan province along with the Kardzhali Province is a province where the predominant religion is not Orthodox Christianity but Islam. However, unlike Kardzhali where the majority of the population is Turkish, the Muslim population of the Smolyan province is made up almost entirely...
to the north. Arable lands are located in the southern and the westcentral portion of Drama.
The southern part mainly has a Mediterranean climate. The climate is more continental with cold winters in higher elevations and in the northern part.
Administration
The Drama regional unit is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):- DoxatoDoxatoDoxato is a town and municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, in East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kalampaki.-Municipality:...
(2) - DramaDrama, GreeceDrama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the...
(1) - Kato NevrokopiKato NevrokopiKato Nevrokopi is a municipality and town within that municipality in the northwest section of the Drama peripheral unit, Greece. Before the 2011 local government reform, it was the largest municipality in all of Greece, covering an area of 873.552 km² . The 2001 census reported a population...
(3) - ParanestiParanestiParanesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern Drama peripheral unit, Greece. It consists of two municipal units: Paranesti and Nikoforos. The largest villages of the municipal unit Paranesti are Paranésti Paranesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern...
(4) - ProsotsaniProsotsaniProsotsani is a municipality and town within the municipality located in the western part of the Drama peripheral unit in Greece. The 2001 census reported a population of 11,215 inhabitants for the municipal unit, and 3,937 for the town. A local attraction is the cave at the source of the Aggitis...
(5)
Prefecture
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the former Drama Prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Doxato Doxato Doxato is a town and municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, in East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kalampaki.-Municipality:... |
Doxato Doxato Doxato is a town and municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, in East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kalampaki.-Municipality:... |
Kalampaki |
| Kalampaki Kalampaki Kalampaki is a village and a former municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Doxato, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is 12 km to the south of Drama... |
||
| Drama Drama, Greece Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the... |
Drama Drama, Greece Drama , the ancient Drabescus , is a town and municipality in northeastern Greece. Drama is the capital of the peripheral unit of Drama which is part of the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery. The town is the economic center of the municipality , which in turn comprises 53.5 percent of the... |
Drama |
| Sidironero Sidironero Sidironero is a village and a former community in northern Drama peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Drama, of which it is a municipal unit... |
||
| Kato Nevrokopi Kato Nevrokopi Kato Nevrokopi is a municipality and town within that municipality in the northwest section of the Drama peripheral unit, Greece. Before the 2011 local government reform, it was the largest municipality in all of Greece, covering an area of 873.552 km² . The 2001 census reported a population... |
Kato Nevrokopi Kato Nevrokopi Kato Nevrokopi is a municipality and town within that municipality in the northwest section of the Drama peripheral unit, Greece. Before the 2011 local government reform, it was the largest municipality in all of Greece, covering an area of 873.552 km² . The 2001 census reported a population... |
Kato Nevrokopi |
| Paranesti Paranesti Paranesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern Drama peripheral unit, Greece. It consists of two municipal units: Paranesti and Nikoforos. The largest villages of the municipal unit Paranesti are Paranésti Paranesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern... |
Paranesti Paranesti Paranesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern Drama peripheral unit, Greece. It consists of two municipal units: Paranesti and Nikoforos. The largest villages of the municipal unit Paranesti are Paranésti Paranesti is a municipality in the Rhodope Mountains of northeastern... |
Paranesti |
| Nikiforos Nikiforos Nikiforos is a village and a former municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Paranesti, of which it is a municipal unit. The 2001 census reported a population of 4,279 inhabitants in the... |
||
| Prosotsani Prosotsani Prosotsani is a municipality and town within the municipality located in the western part of the Drama peripheral unit in Greece. The 2001 census reported a population of 11,215 inhabitants for the municipal unit, and 3,937 for the town. A local attraction is the cave at the source of the Aggitis... |
Prosotsani Prosotsani Prosotsani is a municipality and town within the municipality located in the western part of the Drama peripheral unit in Greece. The 2001 census reported a population of 11,215 inhabitants for the municipal unit, and 3,937 for the town. A local attraction is the cave at the source of the Aggitis... |
Prosotsani |
| Sitagroi Sitagroi Sitagroi is a village and a former municipality in the Drama peripheral unit, East Macedonia and Thrace, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Prosotsani, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,266 . The seat of the municipality was in Fotolivos... |
Transport
- GR-12Greek National Road 12The Greek National Road 12 is a highway or route that links the towns and cities of Thessaloniki, Lachanas, Serres Drama and Xanthi. It also serves traffic heading towards the north, to the Greek/Bulgarian border...
, SW, Cen., SW - GR-14Greek National Road 14Greek National Road 14 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Drama with Xanthi....
, Cen., E - GR-57Greek National Road 57Greek National Road 57 is a national highway of Greece. It connects Drama with Exochi on the Bulgarian border....
/E90European route E90European route E 90 is an A-Class West-East European route, extending from Lisbon in Portugal in the west to the Turkish-Iraqi border in the east.-Itinerary:...
, Cen., NW
See also
- List of settlements in the Drama prefecture
- Former toponyms of places in Drama PrefectureFormer toponyms of places in Drama PrefectureMany settlements in Macedonia region in Northern Greece had Greek and non-Greek forms.Most of those names were in use during the multinational environment of the Ottoman Empire...