Prahova County
The territory of Prahova county has been inhabited since time immemorial,
this being attested by archaeological findings in several localities
such as Ploiesti, Ciorani, Mizil. Administrative and economic development
was determined by the geographical position at the crossroads of major
routes connecting Wallachia, Transylvania and Moldavia, as well as
by the riches of the subsoil and the diversity and beauty of the physical
features. The events that marked the history of Prahova county were
the development of trade and the exploitation and processing of natural
resources, of which crude played a distinct part. In 1857 there was
commissioned the world’s first refinery – the Mehedinteanu Refinery;
consequently, as shown in the Science of Petroleum Encyclopaedic English
Book – 1938, Romania became the first country in the world to record,
in official documents, in 1857 a production of 275 tons of crude.
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Geographical
Outline
Situated in central Romania and having an area of 4,716 sqkm., Prahova
county has a population of 872,900 and a density of 184.9 inhabitants
per sqkm., ranking second in this respect after Bucharest, the capital
city. The inhabitants of this county live in 100 localities: 2 municipalities,
12 towns and 86 communes, the county’s urbanisation degree being of
52.4 per cent. The employed population structure by branches is: 54.3
per cent industry, 26.1 per cent agriculture, 7.1 per cent constructions
and 12.5 per cent services. The seat of the county, the municipality
of Ploiesti, has a population of 252,715, ranking 9th among Romania’s
cities; yet with this population, Ploiesti is second only to Bucharest
in point of the value of its industrial production. Situated on the
southern slopes of the Carpathians close to the curvature, Prahova
county is characterised by different relief forms – mountains 26.2
per cent (with Omul Peak rising to 2,505 m.), hills 36.5 per cent
and plains 37.3 per cent of the total area. The main natural resources
are: oil, natural gas, coal, salt, massive limestone and marls used
in producing lime and cement.
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Touristic
Information
This county
is situated on the meridional slopes of the Carpathians, not
far from their Curvature. It has a surface of 4,694 sq.km and
over 873,000 inhabitants. Now it is the most important county
of Romania as to population and economic life. The varied relief
as an amphitheater consists equally in mountains, hills and
plains. The capital city is Ploiesti, with its about 300,000
inhabitants, situated 60 km North far from Bucharest and 40
km far from Otopeni international airport. Dated back from 1503,
Ploiesti was named a town in 1601 by Voivode Mihai Viteazu,
when the first Union of the Three Romanian Lands was done. Ploiesti
developed thanks to its geographic position, and especially
to its oil. The oil started to be refined since 1857. It is
the capital of all activities regarding the oil in Romania and
one of the most important centers of drilling and petrochemical
technology in the world. All these can be found in the Oil Museum.
The Holology Museum is also a place of tourist attraction. The
tourism is a main activity in this county. Being named the most
wonderful region of the Carpathians, the Prahova Valley with
its resorts (Sinaia, Azuga, Busteni, Breaza) is an interesting
region both for tourists and investors. Also, the Teleajen Valley
and the Slanic Valley, with their known resorts (Valenii de
Munte, Cheia, Slanic) complete the tourist potential of this
county. Each resort is very characteristic and has accommodation
and curing facilities. This county has 11,681 places in 22 modern
hotels, eight motels, 14 pension-hotels, 19 peasant houses and
159 villas, being able to accommodate over 620,000 tourists
yearly. Sinaia, "the Fine Pearls of Carpathians",
is 1,000 m above sea level. The main point of interest is the
Peles Castle, built at the end of the XIX-th century in a Germanic
Style. It has 160 rooms and valuable collections of art, arms
and furniture. The Sinaia Monastery, built in 1695-1796 in a
Brancoveanu's style is a valuable museum of manuscripts and
art. Busteni resort is situated on the Prahova Valley, 135 km
far from Bucharest, between the Caraiman (2284 m above sea level)
and Cosila (2489 m above sea level) Peaks. Azuga, situated on
the national road 15 km far from Busteni, is known since the
XIII-th century as a spa with mineral waters. Valenii de Munte
is situated on the Teleajen Valley and surrounded by hills covered
by forests and pastures. It is known thanks to the "Nicolae
Iorga" Summer University which gathers scientists from
Romanian and abroad. Slanic, situated on the Slanic Valley,
400 m above sea level, is known for the therapy with aerosols
and heliotherapy inside the salt mine which is one of the biggest
in Europe. Other interesting places are: the Salt Mountain (100
m in high, natural reservation), the Salt Drift (14 km long
and unique as to its configuration), the Piatra Verde Peak,
4 km far from the town and offering a wonderful landscape.
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Economy
Profile
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