Demir Kapija
Encyclopedia
Demir Kapija is a town in the Republic of Macedonia
, located near the ominous limestone gates of the same name. It has 3,725 inhabitants. The town is the seat of Demir Kapija Municipality
.
Demir Kapı (Iron Gate) when the settlement was part of the Ottoman Empire
, and is still called Demir Kapı in Turkish.
river makes a wonderful gorge close to Demir
Kapija, while the "Bela Voda" cave is very interesting to see at 955 m long. When passing "The Iron Gates", the road leads to the Valandovo and Gevgelija valley. It is the most picturesque region in Macedonia, as well as the most varied with its agricultural products. This valley is under the influence of the Aegean
climate. Demir Kapija has recorded the highest temperature in whole Macedonia. 45,7 degrees Celsius was recorded here the 24 of July 2007. It is also a national monument of nature and an ornithological reserve, home to many rare species of birds and endemic plants.
Demir Kapija was known as a Slav settlement, under the name of Prosek
, while today's name originates from the Turkish reign, meaning "The Iron Gate".
The town of Prosek was used as a fortress due to its good strategic position; history and artifacts suggest this fortress was built in the era of the Macedonian dynasty around 450 BC as a look out to the canyon beyond for troop movements to the north. In the thirteenth century AD, Prosek had become the seat of Dobromir Hriz, and Strez
was its well-known commander.
The former settlement was fortified by walls, and it is considered that it was used to exist in the Neolithic
Age. Demir Kapija is hiding numerous localities and invincible remains. The research up to the present has proved that all the pass periods have left their traces: the Paeonian, Ancient Macedonian, Roman
, Byzantine
, the period of Samuil the Turkish
as well as the early Christian
period.
The former Yugoslavic King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic had his summer home and winery built here. The winery is the oldest on the Balkans and still produces quality wines under the privately owned Agropin name. Newer wineries, like Popova Kula, have opened up additionally and paves the way for exports and economic stimulus of the region. Demir Kapija is also home to the flour mill Dekamel and has a modern farm for production of eggs known as Salmak.
Demir Kapija is also home to the largest mental institute in the state, The Specijalen Zavod. The Special Olympics team from this institute is well noted in football and track and field events. The continued support of foreign aid such as UNICEF and the British Embassy continues to educate families and the community in general to the contribution and awareness of special needs.
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, located near the ominous limestone gates of the same name. It has 3,725 inhabitants. The town is the seat of Demir Kapija Municipality
Demir Kapija municipality
Demir Kapija is a municipality in southern Republic of Macedonia. Demir Kapija, which means "iron door" or "iron gate" in Turkish, is also the name of the town where the municipal seat is found...
.
Etymology
The name of the town comes from TurkishTurkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
Demir Kapı (Iron Gate) when the settlement was part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and is still called Demir Kapı in Turkish.
Demographics
The town of Demir Kapija has 3,725 residents.| Number | % | |
| TOTAL | 3,725 | 100 |
| Macedonians Macedonians (ethnic group) The Macedonians also referred to as Macedonian Slavs: "... the term Slavomacedonian was introduced and was accepted by the community itself, which at the time had a much more widespread non-Greek Macedonian ethnic consciousness... |
3,161 | 96.52 |
| others | 114 | 3.06 |
Geography
The VardarVardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
river makes a wonderful gorge close to Demir
Kapija, while the "Bela Voda" cave is very interesting to see at 955 m long. When passing "The Iron Gates", the road leads to the Valandovo and Gevgelija valley. It is the most picturesque region in Macedonia, as well as the most varied with its agricultural products. This valley is under the influence of the Aegean
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
climate. Demir Kapija has recorded the highest temperature in whole Macedonia. 45,7 degrees Celsius was recorded here the 24 of July 2007. It is also a national monument of nature and an ornithological reserve, home to many rare species of birds and endemic plants.
History
Demir-Kapija is a place already mentioned in Classical times under the name of Stenae (Greek for gorge). Even earlier dates to the Paeonian era, a fortress for which remains on the mountain Ramniste on the foothills of the Demir Kapija settlement. The ruins are one of only 3 known Paeonian structures in Macedonia unearthed, and dating some 3000 years. In the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
Demir Kapija was known as a Slav settlement, under the name of Prosek
Prosek
Prosek , also known as Stenae, is an archaeological site located in the Demir Kapija Canyon, in Republic of Macedonia. This ancient settlement had an excellent strategical and war position. It was discovered in 1948...
, while today's name originates from the Turkish reign, meaning "The Iron Gate".
The town of Prosek was used as a fortress due to its good strategic position; history and artifacts suggest this fortress was built in the era of the Macedonian dynasty around 450 BC as a look out to the canyon beyond for troop movements to the north. In the thirteenth century AD, Prosek had become the seat of Dobromir Hriz, and Strez
Strez
Strez was a Bulgarian sebastokrator and a member of the Asen dynasty. A major contender for the Bulgarian throne, Strez initially opposed the ascension of his close relative Tsar Boril...
was its well-known commander.
The former settlement was fortified by walls, and it is considered that it was used to exist in the Neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
Age. Demir Kapija is hiding numerous localities and invincible remains. The research up to the present has proved that all the pass periods have left their traces: the Paeonian, Ancient Macedonian, Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, the period of Samuil the Turkish
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
as well as the early Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
period.
The former Yugoslavic King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic had his summer home and winery built here. The winery is the oldest on the Balkans and still produces quality wines under the privately owned Agropin name. Newer wineries, like Popova Kula, have opened up additionally and paves the way for exports and economic stimulus of the region. Demir Kapija is also home to the flour mill Dekamel and has a modern farm for production of eggs known as Salmak.
Demir Kapija Today
Demir Kapija is an outdoors haven for sports and recreational activities. Mountaineers often enjoy hiking the area for their favorite tea plants. Formerly, the national and regional Kayak competitions were held here because of the natural rapids formed by the river into the canyon. Alpinists climb the rock towers to see the most impressive view of the canyon beyond. Trails are also made to hike to these points, as well as to the remains of the aforementioned ruins of the fortress Prosek. Possibly the most interesting hike, noted in The Brandt Guide to Macedonia, is the stopping point between the 2 tunnels on the highway. Parking exists, and it is very interesting walking along the small river between 2 rock faces, like an open-ended cave to some unique Turkish Villages.Demir Kapija is also home to the largest mental institute in the state, The Specijalen Zavod. The Special Olympics team from this institute is well noted in football and track and field events. The continued support of foreign aid such as UNICEF and the British Embassy continues to educate families and the community in general to the contribution and awareness of special needs.
External links
- http://www.popovakula.com.mk
- http://www.cybermacedonia.com/demirkap.html
- http://www.gomacedonia.com/demir_kapija.shtml
- http://www.roads.org.mk/cor-n-s.htm
- http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/103/citanka03.htm
- http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/climbing/recent/dkapija/document_view
- http://www.mhg.ru/english/4DCA3E1
- http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/press/cshi_water_reconstruction.html
- http://www.maplandia.com/macedonia/negotino/#link
- http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/mk-demk.html
- http://www.moe.gov.mk/prirodnonasledstvo/Klisura%20DA.htm
- http://www.dosnica.com.mk/
- http://www.speczavoddk.com.mk/