View source for Orestiada

{{For|the lake in northwestern Greece|Lake Orestiada}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |name = Orestiada
 |name_local = Ορεστιάδα
|type = municipality
|image_skyline = Die Athanasiou Pantazidou Straße im Stadtzentrum (2017).jpg
|caption_skyline = City centre
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Orestiados.svg
 |periph = [[Eastern Macedonia and Thrace]]
|periphunit         = [[Evros (regional unit)|Evros]]
|pop_municipality   = 31686
|area_municipality  = 955.6
|pop_municunit   = 22005
|area_municunit  = 256.9
|pop_community   = 19666
 |population_as_of = 2021
 |elevation = 35
 |coordinates        = {{coord|41|30|N|26|32|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code = 682 00
 |area_code = 25520
 |licence = OP
 |mayor =
 |website = [http://www.orestiada.gr/ www.orestiada.gr]
 |city_flag          =
 |city_seal          =
 |districts          =
 |party              =
 |since              =
 |georegion          = [[Western Thrace|Thrace ]]
 |established_c = 12 August 1923
}}
'''Orestiada''' ({{langx|el|Ορεστιάδα|Orestiáda}}, [[Katharevousa|formerly]] {{langx|grc|Νέα Ορεστιάς|Néa Orestiás}}), is the northeasternmost, northernmost and newest<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grreporter.info/en/orestiada_northernmost_and_newest_town_greece/10590|title=Orestiada: The northernmost and newest town in Greece}}</ref> city of [[Greece]] and the second largest town of the [[Evros (regional unit)|Evros regional unit]] of [[western Thrace|Thrace]]. Founded by Greek refugees from [[Edirne]] after the [[Treaty of Lausanne]] when the population exchange occurred between Turkey and Greece, in which the river [[Maritsa|Evros]] became the new border between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://duth.gr/living/ores/|title=ΔΗΜΟΚΡΙΤΕΙΟ ΠΑΝΕΠΙΣΤΗΜΙΟ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610143843/http://duth.gr/living/ores/|archive-date=2016-06-10}}</ref> It has a population of about 20,000.

==History==
[[File:Volkskundemuseum von Orestiada.jpg|thumb|250px|Historical and Folklore Museum of Orestiada]]
In ancient times, there was [[Orestias]], a small settlement on this site which legends claim was founded by [[Orestes (mythology)|Orestes]], the son of [[Agamemnon]] and [[Clytemnestra]].

Following the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]] and the [[Armistice of Mudanya]] (October 1922), the Western Forces surrendered [[Eastern Thrace]] to Turkey and the Greek army was ordered to withdraw within 15 days to positions east of [[Evros River|Evros]]. As a result, [[Adrianople]] (renamed [[Edirne]]) which is located to the east of Evros, became Turkish, but [[Karaağaç, Edirne|Karagatch (Karaağaç)]], located to the west of Evros, remained in Greece. As Eastern Thrace was evacuated by its Greek population, several residents of Edirne fled to its neighboring suburb, [[Karaağaç, Edirne|Karagatch]], on the other bank of the river (the west and still Greek), hoping that something would change and they could go back to their homes more easily.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.orestiada.gr/dimos/|title=Δήμος Ορεστιάδας}}</ref> However at the [[Lausanne Conference of 1922–23|Lausanne conference]], Karagatch was transferred to Turkish control.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://armyold.army.gr/files/file/enimerotikoi/DSS/3MKTAX_ORESTIADA_20170619.pdf|title=Ενημερωτικός Οδηγός 3ης Μ/Κ ΤΑΞΧΙΑΣ για τη φρουρά Ορεστιάδας}}{{Dead link|date=November 2019}}</ref> The 17,000 Greek inhabitants of the Karagatch Triangle learned of this concession on 27 May 1923.<ref>{{Cite book|title=ΝΕΑ ΟΡΕΣΤΙΑΣ - µια µατιά για να την γνωρίσουµε|last=Τσονίδης|first=Τάκης}}</ref> The abandonment of the old Orestiada began in July 1923, as the population moved beyond the [[Evros River]], the new border. On 4 June 1923, a committee, which had only been formed the day before at a joint meeting of the inhabitants of old Orestiada, traveled 17 kilometers south, to the uninhabited rural site of Kum-Tsiflik (Sandy Estate), to view the possible new settlement.<ref>{{Cite book|title=ΝΕΑ ΟΡΕΣΤΙΑΣ - µια µατιά για να την γνωρίσουµε|last=Τσονίδης|first=Τάκης}}</ref> On 12 August 1923, the new city called ''New Orestiada'' was inaugurated to remind the old Orestiada, Karagatch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ο Δήμος |url=https://www.orestiada.gr/dimos/ |access-date=2023-11-21 |website=Δήμος Ορεστιάδας |language=el}}</ref> The inauguration of the new city took place in August 1923 by the Metropolitan of Adrianople Polycarpos, with Spyros Dassios also in attendance.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Η Ορεστιάδα στη ροή του χρόνου|last=Μαυρίδης|first=Πασχάλης}}</ref>

==Economy==
Orestiada has a medical center, an orchestra, and a choir as well as a sugar factory, outside the city which processes locally grown sugar beets.  Asparagus, potatoes, tobacco, watermelons, and corn are also grown. As well, a cattle breeding fund gives commercial impetus to the city and the whole area which is in such an economically strategic location in Europe.

It is also the site of the Fylakio detention center for refugees seeking asylum in Greece. In November 2010, the [[European Union]] sent [[Frontex]] forces to Orestiada to help [[Greek police]] patrol the local section of the border with Turkey. Some 31,400 people crossed just that portion of the border in the first nine months of 2010.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20101217/wl_time/08599203743300 | title = Ailing Greece Struggles with a Flood of Illegal Immigrants | publisher = Yahoo News | date = 17 December 2010 | access-date = 17 December 2010}}</ref>

==Geography==
Orestiada lies in the plain of the river [[Maritsa|Evros]], at 40 metres above sea level. Orestiada is only 6&nbsp;km west of the banks of the Evros, which forms a natural border between Greece and [[Turkey]]. Orestiada is located 17&nbsp;km north of [[Didymoteicho]], 19&nbsp;km south of [[Edirne]], 28&nbsp;km southeast of the Greek-Turkish-[[Bulgaria]]n [[tripoint]], 40&nbsp;km southeast of [[Svilengrad]], 91&nbsp;km northeast of [[Alexandroupoli]], and 212&nbsp;km west of [[Istanbul]].

==Transport==
[[File:Bahnhof Orestiada.jpg|thumb|[[Orestiada railway station|Railway station]], taken in 2017]]

===Road===
The [[Greek National Road 51]]/[[European route E85|E85]] passes 1&nbsp;km to the west of Orestiada.

===Rail===
The city is served by two railway stations, the larger [[Orestiada railway station]], and a smaller station [[Sakkos railway station|Sakkos]], both on the [[Alexandroupoli–Svilengrad railway|Alexandroupoli–Svilengrad line]]. Historically the city was on the [[İstanbul Sirkeci-Svilengrad railway|İstanbul Sirkeci-Svilengrad line]], since 1971 a parallel railway line that runs exclusively over Turkish territory so that the Orestiada station is now touched only by regional traffic.

==Education==
In 1999, Orestiada became the fourth town to host university departments (faculties) of the [[Democritus University of Thrace]]. The faculties based in Orestiada are the Department of Agricultural Development and the Department of Forestry, Environmental Management and Natural Resources. Both faculties have a five-year curriculum. More than 800 students live in the city.

==Sports==
Orestias hosts two sports club with presence in the higher national divisions, [[Orestis Orestiadas F.C.]] a football club and [[A.C. Orestias]] a volleyball club, playing in [[A1 Ethniki Volleyball|A1 Ethniki]].
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="4"|Sport clubs based in Orestiada
|-
!width="150"|Club
!Founded
!Sports
!Achievements
|-
| [[Orestis Orestiadas F.C.]] ||1927||[[Association football|Football]] ||Earlier presence in Gamma Ethniki
|-
|[[A.C. Orestias]]||1970 ||[[Volleyball]] ||Presence in [[A1 Ethniki Volleyball|A1 Ethniki]], finalist of Greek championship and European CEV cup.
|}

==Climate==

Orestiada has relatively mild winters and hot summers. Rain falls mostly during the winter. 

{{Weather box
| location = Orestiada (2006-2023)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
|Jan high C=7.6
|Feb high C=10.8
|Mar high C=14.6
|Apr high C=20.1
|May high C=25.9
|Jun high C=30.4
|Jul high C=33.3
|Aug high C=33.7
|Sep high C=28.2
|Oct high C=20.8
|Nov high C=15.2
|Dec high C=9.3

|Jan mean C=3.6
|Feb mean C=6.1
|Mar mean C=9.1
|Apr mean C=13.6
|May mean C=19.0
|Jun mean C=23.3
|Jul mean C=25.6
|Aug mean C=25.9
|Sep mean C=21.0
|Oct mean C=15.0
|Nov mean C=10.4
|Dec mean C=5.3

|Jan low C= -0.5
|Feb low C= 1.3
|Mar low C= 3.6
|Apr low C=7.0
|May low C=12.0
|Jun low C=16.1
|Jul low C=17.8
|Aug low C=18.1
|Sep low C=13.8
|Oct low C=9.1
|Nov low C=5.5
|Dec low C= 1.3

|Jan rain mm=65.5
|Feb rain mm=42.7
|Mar rain mm=44.0
|Apr rain mm=48.0
|May rain mm=39.0
|Jun rain mm=46.2
|Jul rain mm=31.4
|Aug rain mm=16.4
|Sep rain mm=30.7
|Oct rain mm=63.0
|Nov rain mm=44.4
|Dec rain mm=60.9

|source 1= [[National Observatory of Athens]] Monthly Bulletins (Jul 2006 -  Sep 2023) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | title=Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα }}</ref> |source 2= Orestiada N.O.A station <ref>{{cite web | url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/orestiada/ | title=Latest Conditions in Orestiada }}</ref> and [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name="WMO">{{cite web | url=https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-orestiada | title=World Meteorological Organization | access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Municipality==
[[File:Dimos Orestiadas Topo.png|thumb|250px|Orestiada municipality.]]
The municipality Orestiada was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>
*[[Kyprinos]]
*Orestiada
*[[Trigono]]
*[[Vyssa]]

The municipality has an area of 955.591&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 256.898&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece|title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)|language=el}}</ref>

===Communities===

The municipal unit Orestiada is subdivided into the following communities (constituent settlements in brackets):<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*Orestiada (Orestiada, Lepti, Neos Pyrgos, Palaia Sagini, Sakkos)
*[[Ampelakia, Evros|Ampelakia]]
*[[Chandras]]
*[[Megali Doxipara]]
*[[Neo Cheimonio]]
*[[Neochori, Evros|Neochori]] (Neochori, Patagi)
*[[Thourio, Evros|Thourio]]
*[[Valtos, Evros|Valtos]]

==Province==
The province of Orestiada ({{langx|el|Επαρχία Ορεστιάδας}}) was one of the [[provinces of Greece|provinces]] of the Evros Prefecture. It had the same territory as the present municipality.<ref name=census91>{{cite web|url= http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |title=Detailed census results 1991 }}&nbsp;{{small|(39&nbsp;MB)}} {{in lang|el|fr}}</ref> It was abolished in 2006.

==Population==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! town !! municipal community !! municipal unit ([[Kapodistrias reform|Kapodistrias]])!! municipality ([[Administrative divisions of Greece|Kallikratis]])
|-
| 1951 || 7,719 || 12,832 || 17,825 || 43,929
|-
| 1961 || 10,281 || 12,908 || 19,441 || 48,821
|-
| 1971 || 10,727 || 12,513 || 17,637 || 40,869
|-
| 1981 || 12,685 || 14,727 || 20,297 || 43,141
|-
| 1991 || 12,691 || 14,783 || 19,669 || 40,821
|-
| 2001 || 15,246 || 17,194 || 21,730 || 39,485
|-
| 2011 || 18,426 || 20,211 || 23,584 || 37,695
|-
| 2021 || 18,164 || 19,666 || 22,005 || 31,686
|}

The population of the settlements within the municipal community of Orestiada at the 2021 census was:
*Orestiada: 18,164
*Lepti: 483
*Neos Pyrgos: 855
*Palaia Sagini: 17
*Sakkos: 147

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in the Evros regional unit]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Orestiada (municipal unit)
|North     = [[Vyssa]] 
|Northeast = 
|East      = [[Edirne]] (Turkey)
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Didymoteicho]]
|Southwest = [[Metaxades]] 
|West      = [[Kyprinos]] 
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Orestiada}}
{{Eastern Macedonia and Thrace}}
{{Prefectures and provinces of Greece}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Orestiada| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Evros (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]