Chvaletice

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Statistics
Area:	8.5 km²
Population:	3,223 (2004)
Map

Chvaletice (IPA: [ˈxvalɛcɪtsɛ]) is small town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.

[edit] History

Archaeologists find earliest traces of humans in this area around 10,000 BCE. Since 1200 - 600 BCE the place is inhabited permanently. The first written record comes from 1393. Ownership of the place had changed several times between king, monastery and local nobles. Thirty Years' War followed by forced conversion to Catholicism depopulated the area but the tradition of Protestantism survived. Railway Pardubice - Prague built in 1845 brought the village to modern age. In 1981 Chvaletice obtained city rights.

[edit] Industry

Since ancient times iron ore was mined here, until Thirty Years' War; then again since the end of 18th century. Mining of pyrite-manganium ore started in 20th century. The mines got exhausted and were finally closed in 1975. In 1973 - 1979 huge power station (4 x 200 MW) has been built here; with the coal being moved from mines in northern Bohemia by ships on river Labe. To make such shipping possible large construction works (Elbe Waterway project, Labská vodní cesta) had been made on Labe's riverbed. Use of ships stopped in 1996. The power station is desulphurized since 1997.