A BRIEF ACQUINTANCE WITH THE PREFECTURE OF SERRES

Geographic-Demographic Facts

The Prefecture of Serres is one of the 13 Prefectures of Macedonia, the largest part of our country in size and wealth. It takes up the Eastern part and stretches from Strymonikos bay, which is on its South side, up to the Greek-Bulgarian borders to the North. It borders on the Prefectures of Drama and Kavala from the East and the Prefectures of Thessaloniki and Kilkis from the West.

It is one of the flattest Prefectures of the country, considering that 48% out of its total stretching is described as semi-flat mountainous, and it is surrounded by the mountains of Kerkini-Vertiskos- Kerdylia from the West and Orvilos-Menikio-Paggeo from the East. Strymon River flows through the Prefecture of Serres. The river starts in Bulgaria and empties into Strymonikos Bay (Orphanos). Its main tributary is Aggitis, in the eastern part of the Prefecture.

The total population of the Prefecture, according to the 1981 census, was 196.247 people, in other words 2% of the country's population. This population is divided into urban (23,6%), semi-urban (19,4%) and agricultural (57,0%).

The total size of the Prefecture comes up to 3.790 square Kilometres, which is 3% of the country's total size. 41% out of the Prefecture's total size is agricultural, something that determines the main occupation of Prefecture's inhabitants.

  Administratively the Prefecture is divided into 4 counties:
  a. County of Serres - Capital: Serres
  b. County of Visaltia - Capital: Nigrita
  c. County of Sintiki - Capital: Sidirokastro
  d. County of Phyllida - Capital: Nea Zihni.

Its inhabitants, both native and Greeks originated from the areas of East Thrace, Asia Minor and Pontos, live in five municipalities and 140 villages.

Archaeological and Historical places

In the Prefecture there are interesting Archaeological and Historical places that people can visit. These are: the city of Serres, the area of Amfipolis, the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist and the Monastery of Icosifinisa with rare hagiographies, Metaxas' strongholds along the Greek-Bulgarian borders, in Beles mountain. Here is the location "Kledi" where Vasilios Voulgaroktonos exterminated the Bulgarian army in 1014.

Tourism

The Prefecture's visitors can have enjoyable moments in St. John, a suburb of Serres' Municipality; in the Valley of St. Anargiri, where you can find anything you need in order to have a good time; in Lailias, a place with plentyof greenery and a modern skiing Centre; in Kerkini Lake with the admirable artificial irrigation dam, the hydrobiosphere and plenty of fresh fish; in Ano Poroia with cool mountainous climate during the summer and fresh trouts; in Alistrati, where you can admire the beautiful cave which is one of the best in Europe.

Culture

The Prefecture is profuse in cultural activities because of the many cultural clubs. Some of the well-known customs are Anastenaria in St. Eleni and Gynaecocracy in Monoklisia, Nea Petra and Ano Kamila.

Agriculture - Cattle breeding

615.000 square kilometres out of 1.630.000 km2 are watered. There has been a land-redistribution in 310.000 km2 with the use of modern irrigation methods. The Prefecture is mainly agricultural including cultivations such the ones of: wheat, barley, corn, tobacco, cotton, sugar-beets, industrial tomato, rice, trees, vegetables etc in large areas.

The Prefecture belongs to the top cattle-breeding ones of the country and it is also the main supplier of beef to Athens' market. It produces large quantities of beef, pork, lamb and chicken, eggs and dairy products of excellent quality.

Industry - Small Industry

In the Prefecture there is a Milk Pasteurization Industry, Sugar Industry, five Tomato-puree and Tomato products Industries, Cheese Industries, Distilleries, Halvah Industries, Cotton Gins, Wood, sweets and Cattle Feed processing. There are also factories producing Boilers, Exhaust Pipes, Clothes etc.