Jachymov

Jachymov is a balneotherapy (radon) resort in the north-east of the Czech Republic, located 17 km from Karlovy Vary and 130 km from Prague, at an altitude of 650 m above sea level on the southern slope of the Ore Mountains, near the border with Germany. The population is 3 194 people (2010).

The main healing wealth of the Jáchymov resort is bicarbonate-sodium-thermal mineral waters with natural radioactivity. In addition to the high content of radon, local mineral water also boasts the presence of rare elements – molybdenum, titanium and beryllium.

The area in which the resort of Jáchymov is located is unique in the number of mineral deposits. At the beginning of the 16th century, the richest deposits of silver ore were discovered here. After the development of silver deposits, uranium ore was mined here to produce then popular uranium paints. In 1898, the Curie couple discovered completely new elements in the waste rock – radium and polonium. This discovery brought them the 1903 Nobel Prize. Continue reading →