Vardar: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Vardar or Axios (Slavic languages Вардар, Greek Αξιός Axios, Latin Axius) is the longest river in the Republic of Macedonia and a major river of Greece. It is 388 kilometres long, and drains an area of around 25,000 km².

The river begins at Vrutok, a few kilometers north of Gostivar in the Republic of Macedonia. It passes through Gostivar, Skopje and into Veles, crosses the Greek border near Gevgelija, Polykastro and Axioupoli ("town on the Axiós"), before flowing into the Aegean Sea in Central Macedonia west of Thessaloniki#Economy in northern Greece.

The Vardar basin includes two-thirds of the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, which some have also called "Vardar Macedonia" after the river.

The valley comprises fertile lands in the Kilkis and Thessaloniki prefectures and Gevgelija and other parts. The river is surrounded by mountains elsewhere. The superhighways Greece Interstate 1 in Greece and M1 and E75 run within the valley along the river's entire length to near Skopje.

The river valley has given its name to the vardháris or vardarec, a northerly prevailing ravine wind which blows down the length of the valley to bring cold conditions to the Thessaloniki area of Greece. It occurs when atmospheric pressure over eastern Europe is higher than over the Aegean Sea, as is often the case in winter. It is somewhat similar to the mistral wind of France.

Etymology

The origin of the river name is quite obscure and a few theories are in existence:

• One etymology derives Vardar from the Thracian language, from PIE *sword(o)-wori-, "black water".

• A more plausible version for the origin of the river name is linked to the Slavic tribes who settled in the region during the 7th century AD. The first part of the name Var- may be linked to the Vedic god Varuna who from the lord of the underworld became the supreme god of the water, rain, rivers and oceans. The name Kuber also quite closely resembles Kubera, another Vedic god. These tribes were of obscure ethnicity but certainly originated in Central Asia, where some main rivers bear similar names - Syr Darya, Amu Darya and some minor ones as Chebdar in Russia,Shakhdara and Kudara in Tajikistan. The word darya is of Persian origin and means river, sea or ocean, and can thus explain the second part of the name -dar.

Another interesting coincidence is that Varuna is also indentified with the Slavic god Veles. A town with the same is situated today in Republic of Macedonia along the banks of Vardar. So the name of Vardar may have meant in the language of the Bulgars the river of Veles or the river of Varuna.

• Another theory comes from the Slavic word "Vardi" which means protect. Therefore Vardar, which would mean protector.
• Another important theory comes from constractive languigist Kaymakam Eyup Sabri Kartal in Turkish language word : "Var-dar totaly turkish two name " var prefix means There is ,there are. Like varlık (richness). var is also a verb in turkish it means to arrive. In Turkish (-dar) suffix means "place" like Serdar ser-dar.Serdar; Ser prefix means head or chief; dar yurt, patriot place.

Dar-ul islam the patriot of islam Dar-ul Erkam the patriot of Erkam, Dar es-salam diyar is pulural form of dar. Diyarbekir or Diyarbakır :in turkish "Bekir'in Diyarı" in inglish "the places of Bekir" or "the partiots of Bekir" or "bekir's dars" .. - * Turks say; Serdar -i Vardar it means ( chief of the vardar)chief of the patriot that the place that should be arrived.

Other meanings

Vardar is also the name of two football (soccer) clubs - one in Skopje and another in Clarkston, Michigan.

Songs

"Vardar Ovası, Vardar Ovası; Kazanamadım sıla parası" Turkish Rumelia Songs.

People Name

• Ahmet Vardar is a famous newspaper writer in Turkey.
• Vardari Yakup Ağa Barbarossa Hayrettin's father.