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Gümülcine

Komotini
Κομοτηνή
View of the old city and the Muslim mosque.
View of the old city and the Muslim mosque.
Official seal of Komotini
Seal
Komotini is located in Greece
Komotini
Komotini
Coordinates: 41°6′N 25°25′E / 41.100°N 25.417°E / 41.100; 25.417Coordinates: 41°6′N 25°25′E / 41.100°N 25.417°E / 41.100; 25.417
Country Greece
Administrative region East Macedonia and Thrace
Regional unit Rhodope
Government
 • Mayor Georgios Petridis
Area
 • Municipality 644.93 km2 (249.01 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 385.4 km2 (148.8 sq mi)
Elevation 45 m (148 ft)
Highest elevation 19 m (62 ft)
Population (2011)
 • Municipality 66,919
 • Municipality density 100/km2 (270/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 60,648
 • Municipal unit density 160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Community
 • Population 54,272 (2011)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 691 00
Area code(s) 25310
Vehicle registration ΚΟ
Website www.komotini.gr

Komotini (Greek: Κομοτηνή; Turkish: Gümülcine) is a city in the region of East Macedonia and Thrace, northeastern Greece. It is the capital of the Rhodope regional unit. It was the administrative centre of the Rhodope-Evros super-prefecture until its abolition in 2010, by the Kallikratis Plan. The city is home to the Democritus University of Thrace, founded in 1973. Komotini is home to a sizeable Turkish-speaking Muslim minority.

Built at the northern part of the plain bearing the same name, Komotini is one of the main administrative, financial and cultural centers of northeastern Greece and also a major agricultural and breeding center of the area. It is also a significant transport interchange, located 795 km NE of Athens and 281 km NE of Thessaloniki. The presence of the Democritus University makes Komotini the home of thousands of Greek and international students and this, combined with an eclectic mix of Western and Oriental elements in the city's daily life, have made it an increasingly attractive tourist destination.

The city stands at an altitude of 32-38m on the Thracian plain near the foothills of the Rhodope Mountains. There is little urban planning in the older parts of city, in contrast to more recently developed quarters. According to the 2011 census, the municipality's population amounts to 66,919, a number that does not include approximately 12,000 resident students, trainees and soldiers. There are two airports near Komotini. The nearest is in Alexandroupoli (65 km), and the other is in Kavala (80 km). It has rail and bus links to all continental Greek cities as well as Istanbul, and the good provincial road network has been supplemented by the new Egnatia Odos motorway.


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