Cernavodă
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| County | Constanţa County | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Town | ||
| Mayor | Hansa Gheorghe, National Liberal Party, since 2004 | ||
| Area | 46.69 km² | ||
| Population (2005) | 19,890 | ||
| Density | 426 inh/km² | ||
| Geographical coordinates | |||
| Web site | http://www.primaria-cernavoda.ro/ | ||
Cernavodă (Turkish: Boğazköy) is a town in Constanţa County, Dobrogea, Romania with a population of 20,514.
The town's name is derived from the Slavic (more precisely Bulgarian) černa voda (черна вода in Cyrillic), meaning "black water".
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[edit] Economy
The town is a Danube fluvial port, and it houses the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant, a CANDU reactor providing about 10% of Romania's electrical energy output. A second unit is currently under construction, through a joint venture between Canada's Atomic Energy of Canada Limited and Italy's ANSALDO.
The Danube-Black Sea Canal, opened in 1984, runs from Cernavodă to Agigea and Năvodari.
The outskirts of Cernavodă host numerous vineyards, producers of Chardonnay wine. The largest winery in the area is Murfatlar.
[edit] Social Problems
Cernavodă has not escaped the legacy of orphanages found throughout Romania. In its recent history there have been attempts by different NGOs to ease the suffering in the town. Two institution led by British NGO workers have been very successful - The Nightingales Children's Project, run by Mr. David Savage M.B.E., and Children in Distress, formerly run by Mrs. Lorna Jamieson. Both institutions work exclusively with children having contracted the HIV/AIDS virus. Aided in part by the financial and emotional support of local expatriate organisations, including the local Canadian school (Cernavodă International School) and the Canadian Campus Charity Committee, these institutions are providing excellent care and should be commended for their dedication and hard work provided.
Cernavodă has also a large Roma population which relies on sometimes criminal means for survival. The Nightingales Children's Project is also sensitive to their plights. Under the direction of Mr. Savage's colleague, Mr. Ben Wells, a school for destitute children has been created in order to provide the necessary tutelage for these children, the aim being to eventually reintroduce them to the Romanian education system.
[edit] History
Cernavodă was founded (under the name Axiopolis) by the ancient Greeks in the 4th century BC as a trading post for contacts with local Dacians.
The Constanţa - Cernavodă railroad was opened in 1860 by the Ottoman administration.
In 1895, the King Carol I Bridge was built across the Danube.
The town gives its name to the late copper age Cernavodă archaeological culture, ca. 4000—3200 BC.
[edit] Disease Control
Cernavodă, along with several other Romanian towns, was placed under a temporary quarantine in March 2006 due to the emergence of H5N1 (avian flu).
