Calafat is a city in Dolj County, Romania, on the river Danube, opposite the Bulgarian city of Vidin, to which it is linked by ferryboat. The construction of the Calafat-Vidin Bridge is planned between the two cities.
History
It was founded in the 14th century by Genoese colonists, who employed large numbers of workmen (Calfats) in repairing ships. This industry gave its name. In 1854 a Russian force was defeated at Calafat by the Turks under Ahmed Pasha, who surprised the enemy's camp.
Population
Transport
Calafat lies on the river corridor VII-Danube and the pan-European corridor IV which starts Germany and ends in Istanbul and Thessaloniki [1]. The city is at crossroads of DN56, DN56A, DN55A and E79. Between the city of Calafat and neighbour, Vidin (Bulgaria), standing links realized by specially equipped vessels (tanks), and there are plans to build a bridge over the Danube in the area called Başcov(whose construction will be completed in 2010) by the Spanish company FCC, the project of constructing a bridge in the area Calafat-Vidin dates from the year 1925. Road traffic between Vidin and Calafat doubles every year, so that became necessary to construct a bridge that will have four lanes of traffic road, a railway line, a line with the width of two meters for bikes and a pavement for pedestriens. The bridge will have a total length of 1,971 m and it will cost over 100 mil.euros.
Newspaper
Calafat have more city newspapers. One of them is called "Ziarul De Calafat[2]", which also is maintained online and "Calafat Live[3]" It has useful daily information about the city of Calafat and the area around it. Take a visit there if you want to read every day news or know more about this city.
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Romania
