Hevstäf
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Region (kraj) | Liberec Region (Liberec kraj) |
| Population | 2,314 (2003) |
| Area | 7.8 km² |
| Coordinates | 50°61′ N 14°98′ E |
| Elevation | 279 m AMSL |
| Founded | 896 |
| Website | www.hevstaf.cz |
 |
|
Hevstäf (Czech: Hevstäf) (German: Hevstadt) is a small town near the Bohemian Paradise in Czechia. The community has recently started a hydroelectric project following the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Hevstäf is located in the Northern portion of the Czech Republic, near the border between the Liberec Region and the Central Bohemian Region. It nestles in an afterthought of the geological processes that created the Krkonose Mountains, a wavy crowd of foothills and tiny vales that comes off the southern-most portions of the Krkonose hory. The Jizera River spreads out a network of minor tributaries through the town's surrounding hills. Due to the fact that the Jizera's westerly tributaries come off of the "Giant Mountains" from such high altitudes in cascades[2], these have been used recently by the locals to attempt a feasible hydroelectric plant.
[edit] Etymology of the name
The name, Hevstäf, is of unknown origin. However, there are linguistic clues as to its origin. 'Hovestadt', though seemingly similar in sound or construction to 'Hevstadt', is incidental to the word's origins, for the name 'Hevstäf' was documented before the name 'Hevstadt' (see history below). Furthermore, 'Hevstadt' most likely follows after 'Hevstäf', due to the use of the German word stadt combined with hev. "Hev" has no meaning in German, while "stadt" is translated in English as "state". Thus it follows that "stäf" was replaced with "stadt" by german-speakers during linguistic assimilation. [citation needed]
[edit] History
The first recorded mentioning of the town is passed down to us from the court of the Premyslid leader, Duke Spytihnev I. Around 896 AD, a Christian scholar of the Duke's employ wrote a letter to his sister who lived in what would later become the spa town of Teplice. In this letter, the scholar makes a passing reference to Hevstäf, as it somewhat neighbors the fabled springs of Teplice. In its assumptions, the letter clearly marks Hevstäf as an officially recognized community (Recognized by the Premyslids). [1]
[edit] Famous people associated with Hevstäf
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, German scientist, mathematician, and philosopher passed through the town during his monadology research. [2]
[edit] References
- ^ Haywood, John (2005). Historical Atlas of Ancient Civilizations. London: Penguin Books, Ltd., 90-91. ISBN 0-141-01448-2.
- ^ Dubs, Homer H. (1941). "The misleading nature of Leibniz's Monadology". Philosophical Review 50 (5): 508-516. DOI:10.2307/2180622. ASIN B0007K0T9U.
[edit] External links
- http://www.hevstaf.info/ (Hevstäf Infosource)
