Struma River - The Longest and Most Important Tributary of the Maritsa River in Bulgaria

Struma (Страма) is a river in southwestern Bulgaria, the longest and most important tributary of the Maritsa River. It flows through the Rhodope Mountains and the Thracian Plain, and its catchment area covers parts of Smolyan Province, Plovdiv Province, and Kardzhali Province. The Struma River is 240 km long and has a drainage basin of 7,385 square kilometers.

The river rises in the Rhodope Mountains, near the village of Gela, and flows southwards through the towns of Devin, Smolyan, and Plovdiv before joining the Maritsa River. It is an important source of water for irrigation and hydroelectric power, and its valley is home to several archaeological sites and historical landmarks, including the medieval town of Smolyan and the Roman aqueduct of Philippi.

Struma has also been used as a name for several other rivers in Bulgaria, including the Struma River (Western Rhodope), which flows through the Western Rhodope Mountains, and the Struma River (Eastern Rhodope), which flows through the Eastern Rhodope Mountains.