Maritsa River

Maritsa River, also called Marica, Greek Évros, Turkish Meriç, is a river in Bulgaria, whose source is in Rila Mountain southeast of Sofia on the north face of Musala Peak. It flows east and southeast across Bulgaria for 170 miles (275 km), forms the Bulgaria–Greece frontier for a distance of 10 miles (16 km) and then becomes the Greece–Turkey frontier for another 115 miles (185 km). At Edirne, already heading out of the Bulgarian territory, it changes its direction and flows south and then southwest to enter the Aegean Sea. Some of its major tributaries are the Arda, Stryama, Topolnitsa, and Tundzha. The area of its drainage basin is 20 000 square miles (53 000 square km).

The Maritsa River valley in Bulgaria forms part of the route for the Sofia–Istanbul railway. The fertile valley soils support extensive fruit and vegetable growing, especially for export. Several large hydroelectric and irrigation schemes have been developed on the tributaries of the Maritsa River. The area surrounding the Maritsa River is very suitable for fishing tourism, relaxation, mountain biking, hunting, and other activities in this calm Bulgarian nature. The many opportunites the fishing tourisms offers to visitors in the area around the Maritsa River helps the tourists to enjoy the beautiful natural surrounding, fresh air and silence.