Thermaic Gulf
Encyclopedia
The Thermaic Gulf is a gulf of the Aegean Sea
located immediately south of Thessaloniki
, east of Pieria and Imathia
, and west of Chalkidiki (prefectures of Greece
). It was named after the ancient town of Therma
, which was situated on the northeast coast of the gulf (Therma was later renamed Thessalonica). Near Thessaloniki
, the length (north-south) of the gulf is about 100 km, while its width (east-west) is about 5 km. The length of the gulf in its northern part (from its northern extent down to "megalo emvolo" cape) is estimated to stretch 15 km, while after "megalo emvolo" cape towards the south, its length extents a further 50 km. Cape Kassandra
lies to the southeast end of the gulf.
To the Romans
, the gulf was also known as Thermaicus or Thermaeus sinus ("Gulf of Therma") and as Macedonicus sinus ("The Gulf of Macedon
", or "The Macedonian
Gulf"). One of its modern names is the "Gulf of Salonica", named after the city of Thessaloniki which sprawls around and along the northeastern coast of the gulf.
Places that lie by the gulf include Sani, Kassandreia
, ancient Potidaea
, Nea Moudania
, Agia Triada, Neoi Epivates, Peraia, Kalochori
, Methoni, Pydna
, Paralia Katerinis and Olympiaki Akti
. The rivers emptying into the gulf are the Pineios
, Aliákmon, Loudias, Gallikos
and Axios; several streams including one near Pydna also empty into the gulf. The Thermaic Gulf was significantly larger in classical times, with many ancient seaside cities (e.g. Pella
) now found several kilometers inland. The extensive silting mainly affects the northern and western parts of the gulf, which receive the bulk of alluvial outflow. The gulf is home to a large number of famous, pristine beaches, which include Sani Beach. However, there are no beaches on the northwest coast, where wetlands stretch from Methone (northwest coast) to Thessaloniki
's western suburb of Kalochori.
The Port of Thessaloniki
is the gulf's largest and busiest port, while another twelve small ports provide sea transport in, out and around the Thermaic gulf. Major road networks of northern Greece
such as the A1/E75
motorway (Athens - Lamia - Thessaloniki) encircles the western portion of the gulf, while the ΕΟ67
(Thessaloniki - Nea Moudania motorway) almost encircles the eastern part part of it.
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
located immediately south of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki Prefecture
Thessaloniki is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Thessaloniki. It is the second most populous regional unit in Greece, behind Central Athens.-Geography:...
, east of Pieria and Imathia
Imathia Prefecture
Imathia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Macedonia. The capital of Imathia is the city of Veroia.-Administration:The regional unit Imathia is subdivided into 3 municipalities...
, and west of Chalkidiki (prefectures of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
). It was named after the ancient town of Therma
Therma
Therma or Thermē was a Greek city founded by Eretrians or Corinthians in late 7th century BC in ancient Mygdonia , situated at the northeastern extremity of a great gulf of the Aegean Sea, the Thermaic Gulf. The city was built amidst mosquito-infested swampland, and its name derives from the...
, which was situated on the northeast coast of the gulf (Therma was later renamed Thessalonica). Near Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
, the length (north-south) of the gulf is about 100 km, while its width (east-west) is about 5 km. The length of the gulf in its northern part (from its northern extent down to "megalo emvolo" cape) is estimated to stretch 15 km, while after "megalo emvolo" cape towards the south, its length extents a further 50 km. Cape Kassandra
Pallene, Chalcidice
Pallene is the ancient name of the westernmost of the three headlands of Chalcidice, which run out into the Aegean Sea. Its modern name is Kassandra Peninsula . It is said to have anciently borne the name of Phlegra and to have witnessed the conflict between the gods and the earthborn Gigantes...
lies to the southeast end of the gulf.
To the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the gulf was also known as Thermaicus or Thermaeus sinus ("Gulf of Therma") and as Macedonicus sinus ("The Gulf of Macedon
Macedon
Macedonia or Macedon was an ancient kingdom, centered in the northeastern part of the Greek peninsula, bordered by Epirus to the west, Paeonia to the north, the region of Thrace to the east and Thessaly to the south....
", or "The Macedonian
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
Gulf"). One of its modern names is the "Gulf of Salonica", named after the city of Thessaloniki which sprawls around and along the northeastern coast of the gulf.
Places that lie by the gulf include Sani, Kassandreia
Kassandreia
Kassandreia It is the seat of the municipality of Kassandra, in the center of the peninsula. Relatively unknown because of its zero tourist attraction but full of life in winter. Known in Greece for being the smallest town with a football team playing for the Beta Ethniki and for the high debt...
, ancient Potidaea
Potidaea
Potidaea was a colony founded by the Corinthians around 600 BC in the narrowest point of the peninsula of Pallene, the westernmost of three peninsulas at the southern end of Chalcidice in northern Greece....
, Nea Moudania
Nea Moudania
Nea Moudania is the seat of the municipality of Nea Propontida, Chalkidiki, Greece and its main town. The town is located 60 km south of Thessaloniki and is considered to be the financial and commercial center of the peripheral unit of Chalkidiki...
, Agia Triada, Neoi Epivates, Peraia, Kalochori
Kalochori
Kalochori may refer to:*Kalochori, Kastoria, a village in the Kastoria Prefecture, Greece*Kalochori, Thessaloniki, a village in the Thessaloniki Prefecture, Greece*Kalochori, Ioannina, a village in the Ioannina Prefecture, Greece...
, Methoni, Pydna
Pydna
Pydna was a Greek city in ancient Macedon, the most important in Pieria. Modern Pydna is a small town and a former municipality in the northeastern part of Pieria regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pydna-Kolindros, of which it is a...
, Paralia Katerinis and Olympiaki Akti
Olympiaki Akti
Olympiaki Akti , or Olympic Beach, is a resort town in the eastern part of the regional unit of Pieria in Greece. Its beach is part of the Olympian Riviera. The Thermian Gulf is situated to the east. The entire coastline is sand...
. The rivers emptying into the gulf are the Pineios
Pineios River (Thessaly)
The Pineiós is a river in Thessaly, Greece.The river is named after the god Peneus and was known for most of the 11th century as the Salambria. It flows from the Pindus mountains and empties into the Aegean Sea, northeast of Vale of Tempe, near Stomio. It creates a large delta, well-known for its...
, Aliákmon, Loudias, Gallikos
Gallikos
Gallikos is a village and a former municipality in the Kilkis regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kilkis, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 7,279...
and Axios; several streams including one near Pydna also empty into the gulf. The Thermaic Gulf was significantly larger in classical times, with many ancient seaside cities (e.g. Pella
Pella
Pella , an ancient Greek city located in Pella Prefecture of Macedonia in Greece, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia.-Etymology:...
) now found several kilometers inland. The extensive silting mainly affects the northern and western parts of the gulf, which receive the bulk of alluvial outflow. The gulf is home to a large number of famous, pristine beaches, which include Sani Beach. However, there are no beaches on the northwest coast, where wetlands stretch from Methone (northwest coast) to Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
's western suburb of Kalochori.
The Port of Thessaloniki
Port of Thessaloniki
thumb|The Customs House, now passenger terminal, in the early 1900s.The Port of Thessaloniki is one of the largest Greek seaports and one of the largest ports in the Aegean Sea basin, with a total annual traffic capacity of 16 million tonnes...
is the gulf's largest and busiest port, while another twelve small ports provide sea transport in, out and around the Thermaic gulf. Major road networks of northern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
such as the A1/E75
European route E75
European route E 75 is part of the International E-road network, which is a series of main roads in Europe.The E 75 starts from Vardø, Norway in the Barents Sea and runs south through Finland, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia and Republic of Macedonia to Sitia, Greece on...
motorway (Athens - Lamia - Thessaloniki) encircles the western portion of the gulf, while the ΕΟ67
Greek National Road 67
The Greek National Road 67 is a highway or route that links the city of Thessaloniki with Nea Moudania and southern Chalkidiki...
(Thessaloniki - Nea Moudania motorway) almost encircles the eastern part part of it.