Rodhopi

Rodhopi (Greek: Ροδόπη;) or Rodopi is one of the fifty-one prefectures of Greece. It is within the East Macedonia and Thrace periphery and in central Thrace. The Papingio mountains cover the northern part which is part of the Rhodope mountains in which the prefecture is named after. The prefecture is bounded with Xanthi to the west, the Evros prefecture to the east and Bulgaria with the Kurdzhali Province to the north. The mountains covers the north and most of the east. The rest of the land are mainly farmlands including forests and grasslands.

The capital of the prefecture is the city of Komotini. The second largest city is Sapes.

The greatest part of the only officially recognized religious minority in Greece, the Greek Muslim minority, is settled in this area. There has been considerable discourse between Greece and Turkey concerning the issue of whether the minority is a religious or an ethnic one. The Greek state recognizes this group as a religious minority of Greek Muslims, whereas the Turkish state regards them as Turkish Muslims.

Climate

The areas that mainly get Mediterranean climate is at the southern and the central portion. Its climate is mainly continental with cold winters in higher elevations and the northern part.

Transportation

• GR-2/E90, Via Egnatia, old and new, W, Cen., E, SE
• GR-53

Communities

• Dialampi
• Efthymos
• Fanari
• Koptero