Arda

The Arda is a 290-kilometer (180-mile) river that runs through Bulgaria and Greece. It is a branch of the Maritsa River. Its source is near the village of Arda in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains, which is part of the municipality of Smolyan. It runs east across Rudozem, Kardzhali, and Ivaylovgrad before entering Greece in the Evros regional unit's northern portion. It runs into the Maritsa between the Greek village of Kastanies and the Turkish city of Edirne, on the Greek-Turkish border. The Arda is the longest river in the Rhodopes, with a Bulgarian portion of 229 kilometers (142 miles). The medieval Dyavolski most arch bridge crosses the river 10 kilometres (6 mi) from Ardino.

Since ancient times, the Arda valley and its tributary valleys have been a desirable location for population. During building in the Kardzhali area, a settlement dating back to 6,000 BC was unearthed. The famous Thracian cult complexes Perperek, known as Perperikon for the last 20 years, and the sacred site of Tatul were among the many ancient sites uncovered in the region. Several stone bridges were built on the river to traverse the old roadways to the Aegean, with magnificent architecture. The Devil's Bridge in the Dyadovtsi area is one of the few entirely preserved bridges (Ardino municipality). Bridge ruins can be found in various locations throughout the region, including near the settlements of Suhovo and Borovitsa, as well as three others that have been submerged by the dams' waters.

The three floods of February 18, 2005, when the water level was 4.8 meters (16 feet), March 1, 2005, and March 7, 2005, flooded low-lying areas, particularly in the Kastanies area, turning it into a lagoon. The Maritsa's waters merged, flooding streets and structures, including homes, and leaving people stranded in their homes.

Length: 290 km (180 mi)