Ploiesti, city in southern Romania and capital of Prahova County, near Bucharest. It is the center of the country's petroleum production; other products include textiles, hats, drilling equipment, hardware, paper and cardboard, glass and leather goods, furniture, and rubber and clay products. The University of Ploiesti (founded in 1948) is located here. During World War II (1939-1945), Ploiesti was repeatedly bombed by planes of the United States, Britain, and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The first U.S. raid on the oil refineries at Ploiesti, on August 1, 1943, was one of the largest of the war, and it destroyed nearly 50 percent of their productive capacity. Population (1997 estimate) 253,623.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2001 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Ploiesti Information info
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