Zlatna (German: Klein-Schlatten, Kleinschlatten, Goldenmarkt; Hungarian: Zalatna; Latin: Ampellum) is a town in Alba County, central Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 6,652 (2021).

Zlatna
Coat of arms of Zlatna
Location in Alba County
Location in Alba County
Zlatna is located in Romania
Zlatna
Zlatna
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 46°09′32″N 23°13′16″E / 46.15889°N 23.22111°E / 46.15889; 23.22111
CountryRomania
CountyAlba
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Silviu Ponoran[1] (PNL)
Area
254.26 km2 (98.17 sq mi)
Elevation
425 m (1,394 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
6,652
 • Density26/km2 (68/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
516100
Area code(+40) 02 58
Vehicle reg.AB
Websitewww.primaria-zlatna.ro

Administration

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The town administers eighteen villages: Botești (Golddorf; Botesbánya), Budeni (Higendorf), Dealu Roatei (Rotberg), Dobrot, Dumbrava, Feneș (Wildendorf; Fenes), Galați (Galz; Ompolygalac), Izvoru Ampoiului (Gross-Ompeil; Nagyompoly), Pârău Gruiului (Gruybach), Pătrângeni (Peters; Ompolykövesd ), Pirita (Pfirth), Podu lui Paul (Pauls), Runc (Goldrücken), Ruși (Rusch), Suseni (Oberdorf), Trâmpoiele (Trempojel; Kénesd), Valea Mică (Kleinwasser) and Vâltori (Waldrücken; Vultur).

Geography

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Zlatna is located 36 km (22 mi) north-west of the county seat, Alba Iulia, on the border with Hunedoara County. Situated in the Zlatna depression, between the Metaliferi Mountains and the Trascău Mountains, the town lies at the confluence of the Ampoi River with Valea Morilor creek.

History

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
1977 10,027—    
1992 9,391−6.3%
2002 9,254−1.5%
2011 7,182−22.4%
2021 6,652−7.4%
Source: Census data

A gold mining settlement has existed in the area since Roman times, when it was known as a municipium under the name of Ampellum. The name Zlatna (derived from the Slavic term for gold) was first recorded in a 1347 document. In 1387, it was awarded town status. During 1619-1620 Gabriel Bethlen, brought to Zlatna a few hundred German and Slovak settlers for mining work. Tellurium was first discovered in a Zlatna mine in 1782 by Austrian mineralogist Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein. Zlatna regained its town status in 1968, after a time when it was officially a commune.

At the 2011 census, 89.59% of inhabitants were Romanians, and 4.59% Roma.

Natives

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Climate

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Zlatna has a humid continental climate (Cfb in the Köppen climate classification).

Climate data for Zlatna
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 1
(34)
3
(37)
7.3
(45.1)
13.2
(55.8)
17.4
(63.3)
20.7
(69.3)
22.6
(72.7)
23
(73)
18
(64)
13.1
(55.6)
7.9
(46.2)
2.3
(36.1)
12.5
(54.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) −2.6
(27.3)
−1
(30)
2.8
(37.0)
8.2
(46.8)
12.9
(55.2)
16.3
(61.3)
18.2
(64.8)
18.3
(64.9)
13.6
(56.5)
8.7
(47.7)
3.9
(39.0)
−0.9
(30.4)
8.2
(46.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −5.8
(21.6)
−4.7
(23.5)
−1.6
(29.1)
3
(37)
7.7
(45.9)
11.4
(52.5)
13.2
(55.8)
13.5
(56.3)
9.4
(48.9)
4.7
(40.5)
0.7
(33.3)
−3.7
(25.3)
4.0
(39.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 45
(1.8)
43
(1.7)
56
(2.2)
72
(2.8)
83
(3.3)
96
(3.8)
88
(3.5)
67
(2.6)
64
(2.5)
54
(2.1)
46
(1.8)
53
(2.1)
767
(30.2)
Source: https://en.climate-data.org/europe/romania/alba/zlatna-44399/

Points of interest

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  • A 220 metres (720 feet) high chimney, interconnected with a smoke duct with a copper smelter (not in use any more) in the town.

References

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  1. ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.

  Media related to Zlatna at Wikimedia Commons