PRAHOVA

judet (county), south-central Romania. The forested Bucegi, Ciucas, and Buzau mountain ranges, part of the Eastern Carpathians, and the sub-Carpathians occupy most of the county. Ploiesti (q.v.), long a major centre of Romania's petroleum-processing industry, is the county seat. Oil wells are in Filipesti de Padure, Boldesti, and Podeni, and there are major refineries in Ploiesti, Brazi, and Cmpina. Between 1890 and 1895, the first five oil derricks in Romania were built in Cmpina. A refinery was added in 1897, destroyed during World War II (1939-45), and rebuilt after the war. Lignite is mined in Ceptura, and salt mines have operated in Slanic since the 17th century. Factories in Valea Calugareasca produce chemicals, and rubber is manufactured in Floresti. Metal products, building materials, and folk art (embroidery and wood carvings) are produced in Sinaia. The Sinaia Monastery and Peles Castle (19th century) are historic features of the town. The 19th-century Cmpina town is known for Hasdeu Castle, built in the shape of a cross, and for the house of Nicolae Grigorescu (1838-1907), the landscape and genre painter. Doftana has a prison where peasants were confined after the 1907 rebellion. The major agricultural activities of the district consist of cereal growing, livestock raising, and vineyard and orchard cultivation. An agricultural research station is located in Valea Calugareasca, and an oil-drilling research station operates in Cmpina. Highway and railway connections extend through Ploiesti. Area 1,812 square miles (4,694 square km). Pop. (1992 prelim.) 873,200.