Kilkis Prefecture

Infobox Pref GR
name = Kilkis
name_local = Νομός Κιλκίς
flag_reg = Flag of Greek Macedonia.svg


periph = Central Macedonia
capital = Kilkis
population = 91,828
population_as_of = 2005
pop_rank = 39th
pop_dens = 36.5
popdens_rank = 43rd
area = 2,519
area_rank = 25th
postal_code = 61x xx
area_code = 234x0
licence = ΚΙ
provinces = 2
municip = 11
commun = 1
ISO = GR-57
website = [http://www.kilkis.gr/ www.kilkis.gr]

Kilkis ( _el. Κιλκίς) is a prefecture in Central Macedonia, Greece. Its capital is the city of Kilkis.

Geography

The mountains are Paiko to the west, parts of the western part of Kerkini to the northeast and Krousio to the east. Lake Doirani is situated to the north and shares its eastern portion of the lake. The bounding prefectures and one district of another state (nation) are Serres to the east, the Thessaloniki Prefecture to the south, Pella to the west and the Republic of Macedonia with the Gevgelija to the north.

Climate

The areas that mainly get Mediterranean climate is at the southern portion by the Axios valley. Its climate is mainly continental with cold winters in higher elevations.

History

The area of the modern prefecture were made up of several kingdoms before being invaded by the Macedonians and were later ruled by them. The rule ended after the Third Macedonian War and became a part of the Roman Empire. After the split of the two empires in 395, the area was to be ruled by the Eastern Roman and the Byzantine Empires. It was handed to Bulgaria and were inhabited by the Bulgarians. The territory of the later prefecture was ruled by the Ottoman Empire before being taken by Bulgaria in the First Balkan War of 1912. In the Second Balkan War of 1913, the Greek army captured the area, that was finally annexed and became part of Greece. It absorbed many of the Greeks from Asia Minor that came to Greece after the Greco Turkish-War of 1922 and with the population exchange prescribed by the Treaty of Lausanne, such that it became a Greek speaking area again.

Until 1939, the area was part of the Thessaloniki prefecture and in 1939 split from the Thessaloniki prefecture and created its own prefecture. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, many of its buildings were rebuilt. Its population expanded and several emigrated from the country. The GR-1 was constructed from the late-1960s and opened in 1972 and added two additional lanes in 1973. Its health center in Drosato shut down in 2001.

Transport

*GR-1/E75, old and new, SW, W, NW
*GR-65, S, Cen., N, NE
*road to Doirani and Dojran, Republic of Macedonia, N

Municipalities and communities

ee also

*List of settlements in the Kilkis prefecture

External links

* [http://www.dhmoskilkis.gr Municipality of Kilkis]
* [http://www.kilkis.gr Prefecture of Kilkis]
* [http://www.army.gr/html/EN_Army/istoria/mouseia/kilkis/maxi_en.html History of the Greek Army at the Battle of Kilkis]