Drama (regional unit)

Drama Περιφερειακή ενότητα Δράμας
—  Regional unit  —
Municipalities of Drama
Drama within Greece
Coordinates: 41°15′N 24°10′E / 41.25°N 24.167°E / 41.25; 24.167Coordinates: 41°15′N 24°10′E / 41.25°N 24.167°E / 41.25; 24.167
Country	Greece
Region	East Macedonia and Thrace
Capital	Drama
Area
- Total	3,468 km2 (1,339 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- Total	106,371
- Density	30.7/km2 (79.4/sq mi)
Postal codes	66x xx
Area codes	252x0
ISO 3166 code	GR-52
Car plates	ΡΜ
Website	drama.gr

Drama (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Δράμας) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Its capital is the town of Drama. The regional unit is the northernmost within the geographical region of Macedonia and the westernmost in the administrative region of East Macedonia and Thrace. The northern border with Bulgaria is formed by the Rhodope Mountains.

Geography

The northern part of the regional unit, bordering Bulgaria, is very mountainous. The main mountain ranges are Orvilos (Bulgarian: Славянка - Slavyanka) in the northwest, Falakro in the north (at 2232m the highest point of the regional unit), the western Rhodope Mountains in the northeast and Menoikio in the southwest. The Nestos is the longest river, flowing in the northeast. The northern portion holds a unique treasure known as Karantere (or Forest of Elatia).

Drama is surrounded by the regional units of Xanthi to the east, Kavala to the south, Serres to the southwest and to the west, and the Bulgarian provinces of Blagoevgrad and Smolyan to the north. Arable lands are located in the southern and the westcentral portion of Drama.

The southern part mainly has a Mediterranean climate. The climate is more continental with cold winters in higher elevations and in the northern part.

Administration

The Drama regional unit is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):^[1]

• Doxato (2)
• Drama (1)
• Kato Nevrokopi (3)
• Paranesti (4)
• Prosotsani (5)

Prefecture

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the former Drama Prefecture (Greek: Νομός Δράμας) was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.^[1]

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Doxato	Doxato	Kalampaki
	Kalampaki
Drama	Drama	Drama
	Sidironero
Kato Nevrokopi	Kato Nevrokopi	Kato Nevrokopi
Paranesti	Paranesti	Paranesti
	Nikiforos
Prosotsani	Prosotsani	Prosotsani
	Sitagroi

Transport

• GR-12, SW, Cen., SW
• GR-14, Cen., E
• GR-57/E90, Cen., NW

See also

• List of settlements in the Drama prefecture
• Former toponyms of places in Drama Prefecture

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Kallikratis reform law textPDF