The Stryama (Bulgarian: Стряма [ˈstrʲamɐ], known in Antiquity as Syrmus) is a river in southern Bulgaria, an important left tributary of the Maritsa. It originates in the Balkan Mountains. The river is 110 kilometres in length and is the sixth longest in the Maritsa drainage, following the Tundzha (390 km), the Arda (290 km), the Ergene (281 km), the Topolnitsa (155 km) and the Sazliyka (145 km). According to the Bulgarian linuist Yordan Zaimov, the etymology of the river derived from Thracian serm, meaning flow.
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👉 Stryama in the context of Upper Thracian Plain
42°15′N 26°0′E / 42.250°N 26.000°E
The Upper Thracian Plain (Bulgarian: Горнотракийска низина, Gornotrakiyska nizina) constitutes the northern part of the historical region of Thrace. It is located in southern Bulgaria, between Sredna Gora mountains to the north and west, a secondary mountain chain parallel to the main Balkan Mountains; the Rhodopes, Sakar and Strandzha to the south; and the Black Sea to the east. A fertile agricultural region, the Upper Thracian Plain proper has an area of 16,032 square kilometres (6,190 sq mi) and an average elevation of 168 metres (551 ft). The plain is part of Northern Thrace. The climate is transitional continental. The highest temperature recorded in Bulgaria occurred here: it was 45.2 °C (113.4 °F) at Sadovo in 1916. The precipitation is 550 millimetres (22 in) a year. Important rivers are the Maritsa and its tributaries, Arda, Tundzha, Stryama, Topolnitsa, and Vacha. Important cities include Plovdiv, Burgas, Stara Zagora, Pazardzhik, Asenovgrad, Haskovo, Yambol and Sliven.
In this Dossier
Stryama in the context of Sredna Gora
Sredna Gora (Bulgarian: Средна гора [ˈsrɛdnɐ ɡoˈra]) is a mountain range in central Bulgaria, situated south of and parallel to the Balkan Mountains and extending from the river Iskar to the west and the elbow of river Tundzha north of the city of Yambol to the east. Sredna Gora is 285 km long, reaching 50 km at its greatest width. Its highest peak is Golyam Bogdan at 1,604 m (5,262 ft). It is part of the Srednogorie mountain chain system, which extends longitudinally across the most country from west to east, between the Balkan Mountains and the Sub-Balkan valleys to the north and the Kraishte, Rila and the Upper Thracian Plain to the south.
The mountain is divided into three parts by the rivers Topolnitsa and Stryama — Ihtimanska Sredna Gora to the west, Sashtinska Sredna Gora in the center, and Sarnena Sredna Gora to the east. Compared to most other mountain ranges in Bulgaria, Sredna Gora has lower average altitude, which determines higher temperatures and lower precipitation. There is an abundance of mineral springs all over Sredna Gora with many spa resorts, such as Hisarya, Starozagorski bani, Pavel Banya, etc. Sredna Gora is rich in mineral resources and especially copper. The economy is well developed. The region is an important national hub of copper extraction and processing industry, as well as of optical industry, both centered in and around the town of Panagyurishte. The largest city in Sredna Gora is Stara Zagora, one of the biggest economic centers of Bulgaria.
Stryama in the context of Karlovo
Karlovo (Bulgarian: Карлово [ˈkarɫovo]) is a historically important town in central Bulgaria located in a fertile valley along the river Stryama at the southern foot of the Balkan Mountains. It is administratively part of Plovdiv Province and has a population of about 19,373 (as of 2021), the mayor being Dr. Emil Kabaivanov. Karlovo is famous for the worldwide-known rose oil, which is grown there and used in producing perfume. In addition to this, Karlovo is the birthplace of Vasil Levski, the most distinguished Bulgarian to start preparing the national liberation from the Ottoman rule in the late 19th century. There is a museum and large monument dedicated to him. Karlovo is also a popular location for tourism in the region.
During the 2000s, Bulgarian archaeologists made discoveries in Central Bulgaria which were summarized as 'The Valley of the Thracian Kings'. On 19 August 2005, some archaeologists announced they had found the first Thracian capital, which was situated near Karlovo in Bulgaria. Many polished ceramic artifacts (pieces of roof-tiles and Greek-like vases) were discovered revealing the fortune of the town. The Bulgarian Ministry of Culture declared its support to the excavations.
Stryama in the context of Rose Valley, Bulgaria
The Rose Valley (Bulgarian: Розова долина, romanized: Rozova dolina) is a region in Bulgaria located just south of the Balkan Mountains in older times and still called among Slavs mainly ones on south "Old Mountain" and the eastern part of the lower Sredna Gora mountain range to the south. Geologically, it consists of two separate valleys, Karlovo Valley on the river Stryama to the west and Kazanlak Valley on the river Tundzha to the east.
In September 2014 the European Commission approved Bulgarian rose oil (Bulgarian: Българско розово масло, romanized: Bulgarsko rozovo maslo) as a new Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).