Ploče

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For other uses, see ploce (disambiguation).
Ploče port from the air, 2004
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Ploče port from the air, 2004

Ploče is a town and a notable seaport in the Dubrovnik-Neretva county of Croatia, population 6,537 (2001), total municipality population 10,834 (2001). Absolute majority of its citizens are Croats with 95.12% (2001 census).

Ploče is located on the Adriatic coast just north of the Neretva river delta and is as such the natural seaside endpoint of most north-south routes through the central Dinaric Alps. This makes it the primary seaport used by Bosnia and Herzegovina and the endpoint of the Pan-European corridor 5C.

Ploče harbour was first mentioned on November 6, 1387, but the building of a larger port waited until the modern times. The work on the present harbor area first began in 1939 but it was all destroyed in World War II. It was rebuilt beginning with 1945 and the village of Ploče grew to 480 inhabitants by 1948. After the Adriatic road and Neretva railway lines were built to the port in the mid-1960s, the town experienced a steady growth.

Ploče was named Kardeljevo after the Yugoslav politician Edvard Kardelj between 1950 and 1954 and again between 1980 and 1990.

Bosnia and Croatia are currently in negotiations regarding the establishment of a privileged economic zone for Bosnian businesses in the Ploče port facilities, though this development is slowed by the opposition of the local government and Croatian people to the idea of loss of sovereignty over their port. Bosnian side wants a concession with sovereignty features for a longer period, 99 years, while Croatian side offers only commercial passage through Croatian territory for Bosnia and Herzegovina. This topic was a subject of "trade": easier passage for Croatian citizens through narrow strip of Bosnia and Herzegovina territory (that divides Croatia's land territory) near Neum, in exchange for privileges for Bosnia and Herzegovina in Ploče. Building the bridge through Croatian territory will solve this problem.

The very natives of this city call it Ploča.

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Cities and Municipalities of Dubrovnik-Neretva County

Cities and towns: Dubrovnik | Korčula | Metković | Opuzen | Ploče
Municipalities: Blato | Dubrovačko Primorje | Janjina | Konavle | Kula Norinska | Lastovo | Lumbarda | Mljet | Orebić | Pojezerje | Slivno | Smokvica | Ston | Trpanj | Vela Luka | Zažablje | Župa Dubrovačka


Coordinates: 43°03′N 17°26′E