The Arda (Bulgarian: Арда, Greek: Ardas) is a river whose source lies in the Bulgarian Rhodope Mountains near the town of Smolyan, flowing 290 kilometers eastward past Kardzhali and Ivaylovgrad and through Greece in the northern portion of the Evros prefecture including Kastanies. It then enters the Maritsa (Greek: Evros) just west of Edirne, Turkey. The portion in Bulgaria is accented by three hydroelectric and irrigation dams, Kardzhali Dam, Studen Kladenets and Ivaylovgrad Dam, and is 241 km long, making the Arda the longest river in the Rhodopes. The medieval Dyavolski most arch bridge crosses the river 10 km from Ardino.

The three floods of February 18, 2005, when the water level was at 4.8 m, March 1 and March 7, 2005 flooded the low lying areas, especially in the Kastanies area which turned the area into a lagoon. The merging of the waters of the Maritsa (Evros/Meri?) caused streets and buildings including homes to be flooded and people to be stranded in their homes.

Zlatograd is a town in Bulgaria, 60 km from Smolyan. It is located in a valley between the eastern and central massif of the Rhodope Mountains. The Greek  border lies just 5 km away from the town.

Zlatograd municipality has common borders with the municipalities of Kirkovo and Dzhebel (to the east), Nedelino (to the north), Madan and Rudozem (to the west) and with the Republic of Greece (to the south) – on the borderline between Bulgaria and Greece).

The traditional Zlatograd houses impress not only with their whiteness and round chimneys, but also with the genuine combination of architectural elements.

Zlatograd ethnic and cultural aerial has been inhabited for millenniums. The town itself boasts many centuries of history. Numerous archeological finds and cultural monuments are there to support this: pagan sanctuaries, acropolis, tombs, Christian and Muslim places of cult – all these wrapped in the romantic spell of folklore sagas and traditions.

The territory of the municipality is crossed by Varbitza River and its tributaries Nedelinska and Kushlenska rivers. There is a dam lake called “Zlatograd” and a micro dam lake called “Hasidere” in the area.

There is a tailings pond called “Erma Reka” which is 8 km away from the town of Zlatograd and 5 km away from the village of Erma reka. The municipality is rich in underground resources. In the surroundings of Erma Reka there is a geothermal deposit of hot mineral water.

The town of Dospat lies on the south coast of the Dospat dam, in the western Rhodope Mountains,close to the Greek border.
The nature around the dam is appreciated as visually appealing, with old pine forests surrounding the lake, and opposite it the steep slopes of the Rhodope mountains are picturesquely studded with houses and hotels.
The area offers great opportunities for recreation and tourism. Dospat Dam is a dam located in the western Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. It is situated in the interior of the Rhodope Mountains, in the immediate proximity of the town of the same name, at distance of 82 km west of Smolyan. Located 1,200 metres above the sea level, it is the highest dam in Bulgaria in terms of altitude, and, with its 22 km? of water area, the second largest in capacity. It is fed by the Sarnitsa river.
The flora and fauna around the dam are diverse and the geography offers breathtaking sights. Old coniferous forests surround the lake. On the northern bank where the towns of Sarnitsa and Krusha are located the terrain is hilly, with meadows and arable land available, used for grazing, potato growing and other agricultural activities. Parallel to the south bank are steep slopes covered in spruce and this bank is where most holiday cabins and hotels are located.
The dam is rich in fish. It is stocked with perch, trout (rainbow, brown, brook and grayling), carp and various other members of Cyprinidae. Trout are reared in cages within the dam. Most types of fishing are practiced: spinning with lures, fly fishing, and others.
In the surrounding areas there are a number of other dams, including Vacha, Beglika, Batak and Shiroka Polyana. The area offers great opportunities for recreation and tourism.
Accessibility is, however, rather poor. Three main mountain roads link the dam to the rest of the world. One from Batak, a second from Velingrad to Sarnitsa and a third from Devin to the town of Dospat. The latter two have in recent time sustained damage due to freak weather. The one from Batak allows accessibility to some of the other Rhodope dams along its length. It forks into two roads; one leading to the town of Dospat and the other to Sarnitsa. This road to Sarnitsa is in places very rutted and may prove a challenge to navigate. Along the south bank there runs a rough dirt track from Sarnitsa to Dospat but this is only used to access the holiday spots.

The village of Banite is situated in the heart of the beautiful Rhodope Mountains, in the eastern part of Smolyan district, in the valley of Malka Arda River, 750 meters above the sea level. It is 270 km from the capital Sofia,125 km from the town of Plovdiv and only 60 km from the town of Smolyan. The village is well known as a spa resort. A warm mineral spring has been found in the center of the village, which according to legends dates back to 2-3 century.
Around the spring there have been discovered remnants of an ancient bath that is an evidence for the prosperity of the settlement in the past.

The picturesque mountain nature, the warm mineral spring, the fresh and clean air ,the favourable climate,all this makes Banite an attractive place for many Bulgarian and foreign tourists.Banite is a starting point for walks, outgoings and routes to beautiful places.