Meriä

Meriç is a term that can refer to two related but distinct geographical entities in the Balkans and northwestern Türkiye. The Meriç River, known in Greek as Evros and in Bulgarian as Maritsa, is a major watercourse in the region. It is about 480 kilometers long and originates in the Rila Mountains in western Bulgaria. The river then flows southeast through Bulgaria, helps define portions of the Greece–Türkiye border in its lower reaches, and ultimately empties into the Aegean Sea near Alexandroupoli. The lower part of the river forms part of an international boundary, while its delta in the Aegean, including the Evros Delta National Park, is an ecologically important area supporting wetlands, migratory birds, and biodiversity. Settlements along the river include Edirne in Türkiye and Orestiada in Greece, among others.

Meriç is also the name of a district (ilçe) in Edirne Province, Türkiye. Located in the northwestern corner of the country near the borders with Greece and Bulgaria, the district derives its name from the river that flows nearby. It comprises several towns and rural communities and has an economy primarily based on agriculture, complemented by cross-border trade with neighboring Greece. The Meriç district forms part of Türkiye’s borderland region, reflecting the historical and ongoing significance of the Meriç River in local geography and livelihoods.