Nestos (Greek: Νέστος[ˈnestos]), Mesta (Bulgarian: Места[ˈmɛstɐ]), or formerly the Mesta Karasu in Turkish (Karasu meaning "black river"), is a river in Bulgaria and Greece. It rises in the Rila Mountains and flows into the Aegean Sea near the island of Thasos. It plunges down towering canyons toward the Aegean Sea through mostly metamorphic formations. At the end, the main stream spreads over the coastal plain of Chrysoupolis and expands as a deltaic system with freshwater lakes and ponds forming the Nestos delta. The length of the river is 230 km (140 mi), of which 126 km (78 mi) flow through Bulgaria[1] and the rest in Greece. Its drainage area is 5,184 km2 (2,002 sq mi), of which 66% in Bulgaria.[2] It forms some gorges in Rila and Pirin. The longest gorge between Pirin to the west and the Rhodope Mountains to the east is the 25-km long Momina Klisura in Bulgaria.
The Mesta's longest tributary is the Dospat (or Despatis). The banks of the river are covered mainly by deciduous trees that extend into halfway between Bulgaria and Greece where it forms the modern boundary of Greek Macedonia and Thrace, as well as the boundary between the Kavala and the Xanthi regional units, having first crossed the Drama regional unit. The river later forms a delta to the north where swamplands, wetlands and a lagoon once existed except in the east.
In the Geography of Claudius Ptolemy, the river is referred to as Nestus (Νέστος), and is said to form the boundary between ancient Macedonia and Thrace.[3]
Because of its flow between canyons and inaccessible mountain areas, Nestos was not navigable in antiquity and also did not offer a natural terrestrial road along the riverbed. Concerning the horizontal communication from the East to the West, the river had only two passes, one in the middle and the other in the lower watercourse, which were controlled respectively by the cities of Nicopolis and Topeiros. The first pass, near Nicopolis, allowed the communication between the valleys of the rivers Strymon and Hebros (Evros), while through the second pass, near Topeiros, passed an ancient road (and later the Roman road of Via Egnatia) that served the communication between the East and the West. In Nestos' valley (east bank) north of the south pass, the Dii used to live, while Satrae were living to the south. Finally, Nestos played an important role in the urban and economic history of the inhabitants of the estuary, where the city of Abdera and later Topeiros, founded by the Emperor Trajan. This is presumed by the deification of the river and its depiction on coins of the imperial period.[4]
^ (in Greek). Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. p. 90. Archived from the original on 15 February 2020.
^Geography of Claudius Ptolemy, Book 3, Chapter 11
^D. C. Samsaris, Historical Geography of Western Thrace during the Roman Antiquity (in Greek), Thessaloniki 2005, p. 33-36
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March 03, 2023
nestos, river, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, nestos, river, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jsto. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Nestos river news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message Nestos Greek Nestos ˈnestos Mesta Bulgarian Mesta ˈmɛstɐ or formerly the Mesta Karasu in Turkish Karasu meaning black river is a river in Bulgaria and Greece It rises in the Rila Mountains and flows into the Aegean Sea near the island of Thasos It plunges down towering canyons toward the Aegean Sea through mostly metamorphic formations At the end the main stream spreads over the coastal plain of Chrysoupolis and expands as a deltaic system with freshwater lakes and ponds forming the Nestos delta The length of the river is 230 km 140 mi of which 126 km 78 mi flow through Bulgaria 1 and the rest in Greece Its drainage area is 5 184 km2 2 002 sq mi of which 66 in Bulgaria 2 It forms some gorges in Rila and Pirin The longest gorge between Pirin to the west and the Rhodope Mountains to the east is the 25 km long Momina Klisura in Bulgaria Nestos Nestos Mesta Mesta LocationCountriesBulgaria and GreecePhysical characteristicsSource locationRila Mountains Bulgaria coordinates42 07 10 N 23 35 10 E 42 11944 N 23 58611 E 42 11944 23 58611 elevation2 240 m 7 350 ft Mouth locationAegean Sea opposite Thasos Greece coordinates40 50 51 N 24 48 15 E 40 84750 N 24 80417 E 40 84750 24 80417 Coordinates 40 50 51 N 24 48 15 E 40 84750 N 24 80417 E 40 84750 24 80417Length230 km 140 mi Basin size5 184 km2 2 002 sq mi Discharge locationHadzhidimovo Bulgaria average29 85 m3 s 1 054 cu ft s The Mesta s longest tributary is the Dospat or Despatis The banks of the river are covered mainly by deciduous trees that extend into halfway between Bulgaria and Greece where it forms the modern boundary of Greek Macedonia and Thrace as well as the boundary between the Kavala and the Xanthi regional units having first crossed the Drama regional unit The river later forms a delta to the north where swamplands wetlands and a lagoon once existed except in the east Contents 1 History 2 Honour 3 Gallery 4 ReferencesHistory EditIn the Geography of Claudius Ptolemy the river is referred to as Nestus Nestos and is said to form the boundary between ancient Macedonia and Thrace 3 Because of its flow between canyons and inaccessible mountain areas Nestos was not navigable in antiquity and also did not offer a natural terrestrial road along the riverbed Concerning the horizontal communication from the East to the West the river had only two passes one in the middle and the other in the lower watercourse which were controlled respectively by the cities of Nicopolis and Topeiros The first pass near Nicopolis allowed the communication between the valleys of the rivers Strymon and Hebros Evros while through the second pass near Topeiros passed an ancient road and later the Roman road of Via Egnatia that served the communication between the East and the West In Nestos valley east bank north of the south pass the Dii used to live while Satrae were living to the south Finally Nestos played an important role in the urban and economic history of the inhabitants of the estuary where the city of Abdera and later Topeiros founded by the Emperor Trajan This is presumed by the deification of the river and its depiction on coins of the imperial period 4 Honour EditMesta Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands Antarctica is named after Mesta River Gallery Edit Nestos in Greece The Momina Klisura gorge along the Mesta in BulgariaReferences Edit Statistical Yearbook 2017 National Statistical Institute Bulgaria p 17 Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment in Greek Ministry of Environment Energy and Climate Change p 90 Archived from the original on 15 February 2020 Geography of Claudius Ptolemy Book 3 Chapter 11 D C Samsaris Historical Geography of Western Thrace during the Roman Antiquity in Greek Thessaloniki 2005 p 33 36 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nestos River Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nestos river amp oldid 1098737931, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
