Kerkini

Kerkini (Greek: Κερκίνη) is a village and a former municipality in the Serres regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Sintiki, of which it is a municipal unit. It is named after ancient Kerkinitis lake (see map of Macedon). Population of the municipal unit 10,037 (2001). The seat was in Rodopoli.

References

Belasica

Belasica or Kerkini or Belles (Macedonian and Bulgarian:  Беласица , also transliterated as Belasitsa or Belasitza; Greek: Μπέλλες, Bélles, or Κερκίνη, Kerkíni) is a mountain range in the region of Macedonia in Southeastern Europe, shared by northwestern Greece (about 45%), southeastern Republic of Macedonia (35%) and southwestern Bulgaria (20%).

Geography

The mountain range is about 60 km (37.28 mi) long and 7 to 9 km (4.35 to 5.59 mi) wide and is situated just northeast of Dojran Lake. The highest point is Radomir (Kalabak) at 2,029 m, with elevation otherwise ranging between 300 and 1900 m above sea level. The borders of all three countries meet at Tumba Peak. The climate in the area shows strong Mediterranean influence.

The area of Belasica became a euroregion in 2003. Two football teams are named after the mountain range, PFC Belasitsa from the nearby Bulgarian town of Petrich and FC Belasica from Strumica in the Republic of Macedonia.

History

During the Antiquity its name was Órbēlos (Ὄρβηλος). According to the ancient authors it was a mountain range in the border area between Thrace and Macedonia. It is generally equated today with the modern Belasica. The name Órbēlos is probably derived from the ancient Thracian/Paionian toponym of the mountain, which means shining mountain, from 'belos' - blazing or shining and 'or' - mountain. It was known for its Dionysos cult.