Vîlcea

a district in Rumania, on the southern slopes of the southern Carpathians at the middle course of the Oltul River. Area, 5,700 sq km; population, 379,000 (1968), of whom 22 percent live in cities. Its administrative center is Rîmnicu-Vîlcea. Farming is represented by viticulture (Drăgăsani area), fruit cultivation, and corn, wheat, and tobacco plantings. The main branches of animal husbandry are cattle raising and sheep raising. Mica, rock salt, and oil are extracted in the district. A hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of 500,000 kW is now (1971) under construction on the Lotrul River. There is timber cutting in the mountains. Industry is represented by woodworking, food enterprises (wine, fruit canning, and other industries), leather and foot-wear, chemistry, and building materials. Mineral springs gave rise to the well-known balneological resorts of Băile Govora and Băile Olăne§ti.