Demir Kapija ( mk, Демир Капија ) is a small town in
North Macedonia
North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...
, 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 ( mk, Демир Капија ) is a municipality in southern part of North 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. Demir Kapija ...
.
Etymology
The name of the town comes from
Turkish ''Demir Kapı'' (Iron Gate) when the settlement was part of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
, and is still called ''Demir Kapı'' in Turkish.
History
![Uspenieto Bogorodicno vo Demir Kapija 04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Uspenieto_Bogorodicno_vo_Demir_Kapija_04.jpg)
Demir-Kapija is a place already mentioned in Classical times under the name of Stenae (Στεναί, "gorge" in
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Greece
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group.
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family.
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...
). In the earlier dates to the
Paeonian
In antiquity, Paeonia or Paionia ( grc, Παιονία, Paionía) was the land and kingdom of the Paeonians or Paionians ( grc, Παίονες, Paíones).
The exact original boundaries of Paeonia, like the early history of its inhabitants, a ...
era, a fortress was built on the mountain Ramniste, on the foothills of the Demir Kapija settlement and it is still there. The ruins are one of only 3 known Paeonian structures in Macedonia unearthed, and they date from 3000 years ago. In the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
Demir Kapija was known as a
Slav
Slavs are the largest European ethnolinguistic group. They speak the various Slavic languages, belonging to the larger Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages. Slavs are geographically distributed throughout northern Eurasia, main ...
settlement, under the name of
Prosek Prosek or Prošek may refer to:
Places
* Prosek, North Macedonia, an archaeological site in North Macedonia
* Prosek, Niška Banja, a village in Serbia
* Prosek (Prague), a neighbourhood in Prague
** Prosek (Prague Metro), a Prague Metro station
...
, 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
Dobromir, known to the Byzantines as Chrysos ( mk, Добромир Хрс, bg, Добромир Хриз, el, Δοβρομηρός Χρύσος), was a leader of the Vlachs and Bulgarian Slavs in eastern Macedonia during the reign of the Byzant ...
, and
Strez
Strez ( Bulgarian and mk, Стрез; original spelling: Стрѣзъ) (fl. 1207–1214) was a medieval, semi-independent Bulgarian ''sebastokrator''. He was a member of the Asen dynasty and a cousin or a brother of Boril of Bulgaria. A major ...
was its well-known commander.
The former settlement was fortified by walls, and it was used to exist in the
Neolithic
The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, is an Old World archaeological period and the final division of the Stone Age. It saw the Neolithic Revolution, a wide-ranging set of developments that appear to have arisen independently in several parts ...
Age. Demir Kapija is hiding numerous localities and invincible remains. The research has proved that all the pass periods have left their traces: the Paeonian, Ancient Macedonian,
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
,
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
, the period of
Samuil
Samuel (also Samuil; bg, Самуил, ; mk, Самоил/Самуил, ; Old Church Slavonic: Самоилъ; died October 6, 1014) was the Tsar (''Emperor'') of the First Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 6 October 1014. From 977 to 997, he was ...
, the
Turkish as well as the early
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
period.
The former Yugoslav King Aleksandar Karadjordjevic had his summer home and winery built here. The winery is the oldest on the
Balkan
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
s 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 hеaven 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 popular hike, noted in The Bradt Guide to Macedonia, is the stopping point between the 2 tunnels on the highway.
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 and raise awareness about the needs of people with special needs.
Geography
![Egyptian vulture](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Egyptian_vulture.jpg)
The
Vardar
The Vardar (; mk, , , ) or Axios () is the longest river in North Macedonia and the second longest river in Greece, in which it reaches the Aegean Sea at Thessaloniki. It is long, out of which are in Greece, and drains an area of around . Th ...
river makes a gorge close to Demir Kapija, while the "Bela Voda" cave is 955 m long. When passing "The Iron Gates", the road leads to the Valandovo and Gevgelija valley. This valley is under the influence of the
Aegean climate. It has recorded the highest temperature ever in North Macedonia; was recorded here on 24 July 2007.
It is the most varied region in Macedonia with its agricultural products.
Important Bird Area
Demir Kapija is also a national monument of nature and an ornithological reserve, home to many rare species of birds and endemic plants. A 10,500 ha site, encompassing the
Vardar
The Vardar (; mk, , , ) or Axios () is the longest river in North Macedonia and the second longest river in Greece, in which it reaches the Aegean Sea at Thessaloniki. It is long, out of which are in Greece, and drains an area of around . Th ...
gorge,
Celevecka river and Krastavec ridge, has been recognised as the Demir Kapija Gorge
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) is an area identified using an internationally agreed set of criteria as being globally important for the conservation of bird populations.
IBA was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife Int ...
(IBA) by
BirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global partnership of non-governmental organizations that strives to conserve birds and their habitats. BirdLife International's priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding ...
because it supports populations of
rock partridge
The rock partridge or common rock partridge (''Alectoris graeca'') is a gamebird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae, of the order Galliformes (gallinaceous birds). It is native to southern Europe, and is closely related and very similar to its ...
s,
Egyptian vulture
The Egyptian vulture (''Neophron percnopterus''), also called the white scavenger vulture or pharaoh's chicken, is a small Old World vulture and the only member of the genus ''Neophron''. It is widely distributed from the Iberian Peninsula and ...
s,
short-toed snake-eagles,
Levant sparrowhawk
The Levant sparrowhawk (''Accipiter brevipes'') is a small bird of prey. It measures in length with a wingspan of . The female is larger than the male, but the difference is not as marked as with Eurasian sparrowhawk. The adult male is blue-grey ...
s,
eastern subalpine warbler
The eastern subalpine warbler (''Curruca cantillans'') is a small typical warbler which breeds in the southernmost areas of Europe. It was first described by the German naturalist Peter Simon Pallas in 1764 and given the binomial name ''Motacil ...
s,
western rock nuthatch
The western rock nuthatch (''Sitta neumayer'') (sometimes known simply as rock nuthatch) is a small passerine bird which breeds from Croatia east through Greece and Turkey to Iran. This nuthatch is largely resident apart from some post-breeding di ...
es,
eastern black-eared wheatear
The eastern black-eared wheatear (''Oenanthe melanoleuca'') is a wheatear, a small migratory passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the thrush family Turdidae, but is now considered to be an Old World flycatcher (family Muscic ...
s and
black-headed buntings.
Demographics
According to the 2002 census, the town had a total of 3,275 residents.
[ Ethnic groups in the village include:][Macedonian Census (2002)]
''Book 5 - Total population according to the Ethnic Affiliation, Mother Tongue and Religion''
The State Statistical Office, Skopje, 2002, p. 314.
Transport
The town is served by the Demir Kapija railway station, with connections from Niš
Niš (; sr-Cyrl, Ниш, ; names in other languages) is the third largest city in Serbia and the administrative center of the Nišava District. It is located in southern part of Serbia. , the city proper has a population of 183,164, while ...
in Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
to the port of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
in Greece on the Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea ; tr, Ege Denizi (Greek language, Greek: Αιγαίο Πέλαγος: "Egéo Pélagos", Turkish language, Turkish: "Ege Denizi" or "Adalar Denizi") is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea between Europe and Asia. It ...
( Corridor X), with Intercity services to Skopje
Skopje ( , , ; mk, Скопје ; sq, Shkup) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre.
The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; r ...
and Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki (; el, Θεσσαλονίκη, , also known as Thessalonica (), Saloniki, or Salonica (), is the second-largest city in Greece, with over one million inhabitants in its Thessaloniki metropolitan area, metropolitan area, and the capi ...
in Greece.
Sports
Local football club FK Lozar
FK Lozar ( mk, ФК Лозар) was a football club based in the city of Demir Kapija, Republic of Macedonia.
History
The club was founded in 2001 and was dissolved in 2009.
At one time the club was a member of Macedonian Second League to 2006, ...
was merged in 2006 with FK Vardar Negotino
FK Vardar Negotino ( mk, ФК Вардар Неготино) is a football club from Negotino, North Macedonia. They are currently competing in the Macedonian Second League
The Macedonian Second Football League ( mk, Втора македон� ...
.
References
External links
* http://www.campingmacedonia.com
* http://www.rocklandcamp.com
* http://www.popovakula.com.mk
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060329040938/http://www.cybermacedonia.com/demirkap.html
*
https://makgeopark.mk/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060518074401/http://www.gomacedonia.com/demir_kapija.shtml
* http://www.roads.org.mk/cor-n-s.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20070627072711/http://www.bhdani.com/arhiva/103/citanka03.htm
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060512220734/http://www.srichinmoyraces.org/climbing/recent/dkapija/document_view
* https://web.archive.org/web/20121202143504/http://www.mhg.ru/english/4DCA3E1
* https://web.archive.org/web/20111022134225/http://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
* https://web.archive.org/web/20051214050715/http://www.moe.gov.mk/prirodnonasledstvo/Klisura%20DA.htm
* http://www.dosnica.com.mk/
* https://web.archive.org/web/20060219155351/http://www.speczavoddk.com.mk/
{{Authority control
Cities in North Macedonia
Demir Kapija Municipality
Important Bird Areas of North Macedonia