Arda River

Greek Árdhas, Arda river in Bulgaria, rises in the central Rhodope Mountains near the town of Smolyan and follows a 180 miles (290 km) course eastward past Kurdjali and Ivaylovgrad to enter the Maritsa River just west of Edirne, Turkey, after a 23 miles (37 km) course in Greece. The Bulgarian part of the area has three hydroelectric and irrigation dams which are among the largest in Bulgaria. In the upper valley are the mining towns of Rudozem, Madan and Smolyan situated on the tributary Cherna River. The Arda River valley is known for its tobacco growing. The numerous rocky cliffs and banks are covered by sub-Mediterranean vegetation, mainly forests of Quercus with Carpinus, Fraxinus and Mediterranean tree species.

The area surrounding the Arda River is suitable for tourism and fishing along with mountain activities, mountain biking etc. Human activities include hunting, forestry, fishing, and extensive rearing of sheep and cattle.
Arda River is a transboundary river, which starts in Bulgaria and continues into Greece. The Madanska and Varbitza Rivers are tributaries of Arda River. This requires fulfillment of the commitments resulting from the Convention for protection and use of the transboundary water currents and the international lakes (1992). By improving the water quality in Madanska , Varbitza and Arda Rivers, a contribution to the water quality both in Bulgaria and Greece will be achieved and therefore the fishing tourism grows steadily. In this way, some of the problems of cross-border friction and pollution will be also eradicated.