Ostrov (Karlovy Vary District)

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For other uses of "Ostrov", see Ostrov (disambiguation).

The Old Square

Ostrov (IPA: [ˈostrof]), formerly Ostrov nad Ohří (German: Schlackenwerth), is a town in the Carlsbad Region, Czech Republic. It is located at foothill of Ore Mountains about 10 km northeast of Karlovy Vary and has a population of 17,193 (2005). The origin of the settlement named Zlaukowerde (Slávek's Island) at confluence of Bystřice and Jáchymovský potok traces back to beginning of 13th century. The town charter for Ostrov was issued by Bohemian king John the Blind in 1331. Population of Ostrov multiplied after WWII with boom of uranium mining in nearby Jáchymov. The extensive housing blocks from 1950s forming the new part of Ostrov are considered one of the best examples of socialist realism architecture in the Czech Republic. The town was known for production of Škoda trolleybuses for many decades, but this ended in 2004.