Bălţi 530436 226045789 2008-07-16T16:13:32Z Illythr 848299 Revert to revision 226039937 dated 2008-07-16 15:42:45 by 82.79.1.130 using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] {{Articleissues|cleanup=February 2007|examplefarm=October 2007|globalize=October 2007|refimprove=December 2007|original research=December 2007}} {{Infobox Settlement | official_name = Bălţi | other_name= | nickname = | motto = | image_skyline = | image_flag = Bandera_de_Balti.svg | image_seal = Armes Balti.jpg |image_map = Balti Moldova.png | map_caption = Municipality of Bălţi (in red) in [[Moldova]] |subdivision_type = [[Country]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Municipality]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of localities in Moldova|Communes]] |subdivision_name = {{MDA}} |subdivision_name1 = [[Bălţi]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Sadovoe]], [[Elizaveta]] | established_title = Founded | established_date = 1421 | established_title2 = [[City rights]] | established_date2 = 1818 | government_type = [[Municipal Council]] | leader_title = [[Mayor]] | leader_name = [[Vasile Panciuc]], since 2001 | area_magnitude = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_total_km2 = 78 | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_urban_km2 = 41.42 | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | population_as_of=2004 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 127,600 | population_urban = 122,700 | population_metro = | population_density_sq_mi = | population_density_km2 = 1748 | timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]] | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]] | utc_offset_DST = +3 | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = MD-3100 | area_code = +373 231 X-XX-XX |blank_name = [[Licence plate]] |blank_info = BL XX 000 | latd = 47| latm = 46| lats =| latNS = N | longd = 27| longm = 55 | longs = | longEW = E | elevation_footnotes= | elevation_ft = | elevation_m = 59 | website = [http://www.balti.md www.balti.md] | footnotes = }} '''Bălţi''', (pronounced [{{IPA|ˈbəltsʲ}}]), also spelled '''Beltsy''' ({{lang-ru|''Бельцы''}}, {{lang-uk|''Бєльці''}}, {{lang-pl|Bielce}}) is a city in [[Moldova]]. It is the second largest in terms of area and economic importance (after [[Chişinău]]), and the third largest city in terms of population (after [[Chişinău]] and [[Tiraspol]]). It is one of the five Moldovan localities having the status of [[municipality|municipalities]]. Bălţi, sometimes also called "the northern capital", is the major industrial, cultural, commercial centre and transportation hub in the north of the country. It is situated 127 km north of the capital [[Chişinău]], and is located on the river [[Răut]], a tributary of [[Dniester]], on a hilly landscape in the [[Bălţi steppe]]. == Etymology and names of the Bălţi word == The word Bălţi (pl. of [[Moldavian language|Moldavian]] sing. "''baltă''"<ref>[http://online.ectaco.co.uk/main.jsp?do=e-services-dictionaries-word_translate1&direction=1&status=translate&lang1=23&lang2=ro&source=swamp English <-> Romanian Online Dictionary - a Bilingual Dictionary from ECTACO]</ref>, plural of the [[Russian language|Russian]] "''болото''"<ref>[http://lingvo.yandex.ru/en?text=%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BE&lang=en&search_type=lingvo&st_translate=1 lingvo.yandex.ru]</ref>) is translated literally as "swamps, puddles, pools". It is considered that the city had been named thus because it was founded on a hill dominating the wetland formed where the creek Răuţel falls into the river [[Răut river|Răut]]. The spelling ''Бэлць'' (Belts) was used between 1940-1989 in [[Moldovan Cyrillic alphabet]], and after 1989 is sometimes used in [[Russian language|Russian]]. == Geography and territory== [[Image:Balti Bielce.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Vasile Alecsandri]] square in the city center]] Bălţi is situated on the tops and slopes of hills, and partially in a small valley. The land in the north of [[Moldova]] is very fertile, mostly consisting of [[chernozem]]. Several extraction sites for raw materials used in the construction industry are also found in the vicinity of Bălţi{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The creeks [[Răuţel]], [[Copăceanca]], and [[Flămândă]] cross the territory of the municipality, and flow into the river [[Răut]]. Also, several lakes are situated in Bălţi: City Lake, Komsolskoe Lake, Kirpichnoe Lake, Strâmba Lake. The all-time maximum temperature registered in the city was 38°C{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, the all-time minimum -32°C. There are 350 to 450 mm of annual rainfall, mostly during summer and fall. Winds are generally from the north-east or the north-west at about 2-5 m/s{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The city is situated in the 7th zone of seismic activity, with a well-felt earthquake (generally without any serious structural damage to the city's buildings) striking on average every 35 years{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. The city itself is located on portions of four hills. The river Răut separates one hill in NE, the inner slope of which is occupied by the neighborhood Slobozia. Its affluent Răuţel separates one hill in S, the inner slope of which is the Podul Chişinăului district, and in the valley ca. 1 km upstream - Bălţul Nou neighborhood. The central hill dominates the valleys of the creek and river, and contains the downtown area and the old town; its gentle eastern slope - the industrial area Molodova; the valleys - a canoe-kayak channel, Autogara/Avtovokzal, 9th district, the area of the former [[Bălţi concentration camp]], and the [[Bălţi City Airport]]. The north-western and northern parts are located on the highest of the four hills, separated from the rest of the city by the railway lines. The inner slopes of this hill are occupied by Pământeni and 8th district, the hill top - by medical facilities, and the outer slope - by Dacia/BAM. The [[municipality]] covers an area of 78.0 km², of which the city proper 41.42 km², the village [[Elizaveta]] (an eastern suburb) 9.81 km², and the village [[Sadovoe]] (a north-western suburb) 26.77 km². Of these, an important portion (20.11 km²) is actually agricultural land. The names of city neighborhoods reflect different historic influences: 19th century suburbs: ''Păminteni/Pomeneteny'', ''Slobozia'', ''Molodovo'', ''Podul Chişinăului/Kishinevskiy Most''; others are known by their [[Soviet]]-era names: 8th district, 9th district. A district in the northern part of the city is called ''Dacia'', and is colloquially referred to as ''BAM'', its previous name. A district in the southern part is called ''Bălţul Nou/Novye Beltsy'', and one in the eastern part - ''Autogara/Avtovokzal''. == History == {{main|History of Bălţi}} === Middle Ages === In 1421, the city was founded as a fair by [[Rimgaila]] of [[Masovia]], a sister of [[Vytautas the Great]] of [[Lithuania]] and an ex-wife of the [[Moldovans|Moldavian]] [[Prince]] [[Alexandru cel Bun|Alexandru I cel Bun]] ''[Alexander the Good]''. At the time the territory belonged to the [[Dorohoi]] [[ţinut]] ([[land]]/[[county]], later to [[Soroca]] county and, mostly, [[Iaşi]] county of the [[Principality of Moldova]] ([[Iaşi]] was the capital of the Principality from 1574 to 1859. A place of crossroads, Bălţi soon became well-known as a [[horse fair]]. In 1469, a [[Crimean Tatars|Crimean Tatar]] invasion led by the [[Khan (title)|khan]] [[Meñli I Giray]] burned the place to the ground, before being defeated in the [[Battle of Lipnic]], about 100 km north. Bălţi was very slowly rebuilt. === Eighteenth century === During this [[Russo–Turkish War (1710–1711)|failed military campaign]] the main headquarters of the Russian and parts of the Moldavian armies were established at Bălţi, due to its crossroads location. '''1766''' The prince [[Alexandru Ghica]], one of a few local (and non-Greek) princes of that time, divided the Bălţi estate into two parts, awarding one to the [[Saint Spiridon monastery]] of [[Iaşi]], and the other to the merchant brothers Alexandru, Constantin and [[Iordache Panaiti]]. Over the next decades, the three boyar brothers improved the locality of the town. The development of the town in the 18th century suffered also due to the fact that the country had to support the burdens of three invading armies, Ottoman, Russian, and Austrian{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, which clashed in 4 wars of a total duration of 16 years, during which they performed extensive regular requisitions to supply their troops, and established separate administration. === Nineteenth century === The [[Treaty of Bucharest, 1812|Treaty of Bucharest]] saw the [[Ottoman Empire]] ceding (without having such a legal right) to the [[Russian Empire]] the eastern half of Moldavia, including the town of Bălţi. Bălţi initially belonged to the Iaşi county. This, however, made Bălţi, with a population of 8,000, the administrative center of the county. Bălţi received formal [[city]] rights in 1818. The [[Alexander I of Russia|Russian tsar Alexander I]], while passing through Bălţi during a visit to his newly acquired province, received news that his nephew, the future tsar [[Alexander II of Russia]], was born. Overjoyed, he granted Bălţi official city status. '''1887''' ''Iaşi county'' is renamed ''Bălţi county''. '''1889''' The city becomes a railroad hub. The ethnic composition of the city diversified with settlers arriving from Austrian [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]], Ukraine and (fewer) from Russia proper, being offered land or seeking freedom of religion.<ref>In particular, many were Russian clerics ([[Old Believers]]) who had not accepted a 17th century move of modernization within the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], and were excommunicated, provoking a split. The western provinces of the Russian Empire with Bessarabia in particular, were more liberal religiously.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}</ref> A significant number of [[Jew]]s (from Galicia, then in the [[Habsburg Monarchy|Habsburg Empire]]) settled in Bălţi, and by the end of the century became first a plurality, then a majority. === Twentieth century === ==== World War I period ==== The city hosted a ''County Congress of Farmers'', the largest of the kind in Bessarabia, on {{OldStyleDate|December 1|1917|November 19}}, which sent representatives to ''Sfatul Ţării''.<ref>{{ro icon}} Pantelimon Halipa, Anatolie Moraru, "Testament pentru urmaşi", München, 1967, reprint Hyperion, Chişinău, 1991, p. 70</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} Two ad hoc groups of Russian army [[Cossack]] regiments were dislocated in the Bălţi county, and a 3,000-strong infantry detachment in [[Orhei]], whose incompetent leadership resulted in extensive pillaging in Bălţi, [[Soroca]] and Orhei counties, with many dead, including several Bessarabian public personalities, which substantiated the outcry of the population{{Fact|date=April 2008}}.<ref>Halipa, Moraru, p. 70, p. 144</ref><ref>{{ro icon}}Ion Nistor, ''Istoria Basarabiei'', Humanitas, 1991. ISBN 973-28-0283-9, p. 275</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} The committees of the two [[regiment]]s stationed in Bălţi county adopted resolutions which called for continuous sacking until the solders would be given [[discharge]] papers.<ref>Halipa, Moraru, p. 70</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} In December 1917, when the Directorate General for Armed Forces of the [[Moldavian Democratic Republic]] was formed, one of its first units was in Bălţi, where the ''[[Druzhina]]'' (a popular [[militia]] unit) no. 478 of the [[Russian Empire]], composed almost entirely of Moldavians, and led by [[captain]] Anatolie Popa, was nationalized. <ref>Halipa, Moraru, p. 75-76</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} In March 1918, the Bălţi County Council, along with the ones of Soroca and Orhei, submitted resolutions to the Sfatul Ţării, asking it to consider union with Romania.<ref>Nistor, p. 282</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} ==== Inter-war period ==== In the first part of the 20th century the economy expanded, and the city started to diversify. Many buildings in the town/city date from the inter-war period. '''1920s''' The seat of the [[Bishopric]] is moved from [[Hotin]] to Bălţi, and the [[Bishopric Palace, Bălţi|Bishopric Palace]] is built (finished in 1933), with the effort of [[Visarion Puiu]]. '''1920s''' The [[Saint Constantine and Elena Cathedral, Bălţi|Saint Constantine and Elena Cathedral]] is built throughout (finished in 1932, officially inaugurated 1933, in the presence of the royal family) '''1940''' The city reaches close to 40,000 inhabitants. Ca. 45% were [[Jews]], 30% [[Moldovans]], and the rest were [[Ukrainians]], [[Russians]], [[Poles]], [[Armenians]]. ==== World War II period ==== After the [[Soviet occupation of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina]], a part of the city population was deported to [[Siberia]] (the largest deportation occurred on 12-13 June 1941, as well as the smaller ones, used the Bălţi Slobozia Railway Station as one of the major departing point for the cattle car trains with people deported from northern [[MSSR]])<ref name="Usatiuc">Alexandru Usatiuc-Bulgăr ''"Cu gîndul la "O lume între două lumi": eroi, martiri, oameni-legendă"'' ("Thinking of 'A World between Two Worlds': Heroes, Martyrs, Legendary People"), Publisher: Lyceum, Orhei (1999) ISBN 9975-939-36-8</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}}. In [[June 22]] - [[July 26]], [[1941]], the [[Romanian Army]] participated in the [[Operation Barbarossa|Axis offensive against the Red Army]] dislocated in [[Bessarabia]], in the so-called [[Operation Munich]], liberating Bălţi by July 1941. [[Reinhard Heydrich]], the chief of the [[RSHA|German Reich Security Main Office]] ({{lang-de|Reichssicherheitshauptamt}}), flew several fighter missions in his private modified [[Me109]] from the [[Bălţi-City Airport]] in July 1941. Heydrich was shot down by Soviet anti-air fire over [[Ukraine]], and barely escaped capture after having to swim for his life. Upon the Axis capture of the city, a 20-strong unit of the German [[SS]] [[Einsatzkommando]] D proceeded to murder ca. 200 [[Jew]]s of the city over three days. The majority of the 15,000 Jewish population of the city managed to escape in the previous two weeks. The Soviet authorities organized their evacuation by railway, in cattle cars, to Central Asia, mostly to Uzbekistan. Although the majority have survived and returned to the city after the war, their life as refugees and on the road was highly subhuman{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, due to quasi-absence of regular supplies, normal housing, or useful employment opportunities{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. In August 1941, there were 1,300 Jews left in the city, and the pro-fascist government of [[Ion Antonescu]] has decided to deport them. In September 1941, they, together with other Jews from the county, were gathered in two created ghettos, in [[Răuţel]] and [[Alexăndreni]], size ca. 3,500 each. In ca. 10 days, the ghettos were dissolved, and the Jews hastily moved, mostly during the night, to a concentration camp in [[Mărculeşi]], size ca. 11,000. After two more weeks, this was also abolished, and the Jews were deported to [[Transnistria (WWII)|occupied Transnistria]]. On February 27 - March 2, 1944, the Soviet army reoccupied the city from [[Romania]]. In the summer of 1944, the Soviets have created two camps in the city{{Fact|date=May 2008}}: a small POW camp within the present location of the military base, and a large [[concentration camp]] at the SE outskirts of the city, by fencing out several blocks of one-story houses, the [[Bălţi concentration camp]]. It contained up to 45,000 prisoners{{Fact|date=April 2008}} at a time, most of which were [[POW]]s, while others were arrested locals of military age who were discharged, due to light injuries{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, from the Romanian Army after fighting from several weeks to several months against [[Nazi Germany]]. In total, ca. 55,000{{Fact|date=April 2008}} people have passed through this camp, of them ca. 45,000 [[Romanians]] (up to half of which were locals{{Fact|date=April 2008}}), ca. 5,000 [[Germans]], ca. 3,000 [[Italians]], ca. 2,000 [[Hungarians]], [[Poles]] and [[Czechs]]. '''1944''' Fearing the repeat of the 1940-1941 Soviet highly genocidal policy, thousands of people, including most intellectuals, flee to Romania. Like the other localities of Moldova, the city has largely lost its pre-World War II [[intelligentsia]] to fleeing from Soviet persecution. ==== Post-World War II period ==== In 1944, with the return of the Soviet authorities, the policy of political and class persecution resumed. The largest of post-war deportations occurred on 5-6 July 1949, and included also 185 families from the city of Bălţi, and 161 families from the then suburbs.<ref>{{mo}}Mihail Adauge, Alexandru Furtună, "Basarabia şi basarabenii", Chişinău, Editura Uniunii Scriitorilor din Moldova, 1991, p.332-335</ref>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} (The population of the city at the time was ca. 30,000.) Numerous people, especially youth, were also enrolled in labor camps throughout the Soviet Union. An anti-Soviet armed resistance group was active in the city during the [[Stalinism|Stalinist]] era. "Sabia Dreptăţii" ["The Sword of Justice"] was discovered by the [[NKVD]] in 1947, based at the Pedagogical Lycée (former Ion Creangă Lycée) in Bălţi.<ref>{{ro icon}} [http://www.presidency.ro/static/ordine/RAPORT_FINAL_CPADCR.pdf Comisia Prezidenţială pentru Analiza Dictaturii Comuniste din România: Raport Final] / ed.: Vladimir Tismăneanu, Dorin Dobrincu, Cristian Vasile, Bucureşti: Humanitas, 2007, 879 pp., ISBN 978-973-50-1836-8</ref> During the 1940s and early 1950s, the city has lost a significant part of its population to Stalinist repressions (political imprisonment and deportations), Romanian deportation of Jews (Holocaust), World War II, the Moldavian famine (1946-1947)<ref name="Usatiuc"/>{{Verify credibility|date=March 2008}} and emigration. After World War II, significant immigration occurred from all over the USSR in a move to rebuild the country, develop the industry and establish a local Soviet and party apparatus. In the 1980s many Moldovans from the northern countryside of moved to Bălţi. By the end of 1980s, most of the Jews of Moldova had migrated to Israel. The Russian- and Ukrainian-speaking group had by then reached 50% of the population of the city, with Moldavian-speaking representing the other 50%{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. During that time, the regional delegate to the [[Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union]] was the [[Marshal of the Soviet Union|Soviet marshal]] [[Sergei Akhromeyev]], one of the most pre-eminent hard-liners in the Soviet power system. He was one of the close allies of the 1991 [[Soviet coup attempt of 1991|putchists]] that tried to overthrow [[Mikhail Gorbachev|Gorbachev]]. ==== Fall of communism and independence of Moldova ==== During 1988-1989, the most effervescent period in [[Moldova]]'s recent history, Bălţi was known as the "quiet city"{{Fact|date=April 2008}} of Moldova. Only a couple public demonstrations took place in the city during this period, none gathered more than 15,000{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. Most Baltiers, including Moldavian speaking opposed the drive for establishing the [[Romanian language]] as the only official language of the country.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} The former [[Soviet]] apparatus representatives have retained political control over the city administration, although some reforms have been done, just like everywhere in Eastern European countries. The municipal activity is done in Russian and Moldavian. The city also actively supports Ukrainian language and culture. '''1992-2007''' Permanent or work-seeking emigration to [[Russia]], [[Italy]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], [[Greece]], [[US]], [[Germany]], [[Israel]], [[France]] and a low natality rate have led to a 23% decrease in population{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, including a 45% decrease among ethnic Russians{{Fact|date=April 2008}}, 30% ethnic Ukrainians, 15% ethnic Moldavians{{Fact|date=April 2008}}. ==Flag and coat of arms== ===Coat of arms=== [[Image:Armes Balti.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Current coat of arms]] The current coat of arms and flag of Bălţi, elaborated by [[Silviu Tabac]] from the Moldovan State Commission for [[Heraldry]], have been adopted by the Municipal Council in April 2006. A shield, with (alternating) six silvery strips (symbolizing ''water''), and six blue strips (symbolizing ''earth'') form the background (''baltă'', plural ''bălţi'' in Moldavian means ''pools'' or ''puddles'' in English). The central element of the shield is an [[Archery|archer]] in red clothes, in the military outfit (yellow) of [[Stephen III of Moldavia]] times (15th century). The archer represents the medieval military recruitment, formed by local free peasants.<ref>In medieval [[Moldavia]] ''Arcaşii lui Ştefan [Stephen's archers]'', free peasants paying tax only to the country's ruler and ready to serve at the first call, formed the first line of defense against invading enemies, and often had to defend their villages and families themselves, or hide them in the forests, before the [[Principality]]'s army would come to relief.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} Throughout the hilly part (i.e. most) of Moldova, many summits have an additional man-made earth addition of up to 10 meters in some places, where [[warning fires]] were located in the early Middle Ages. One can easily recognize these spots on the Moldavian, now deforested, mainly cultivated landscape, all the way to the banks of the river [[Dniester]], across from which the Asian [[steppe]] begins, and can observe a repeating peculiarity: From each of the summits the otherwise obscured neighborhood is very well observable, with at least 3 other such spots in clear view, although possibly at a couple hours' walking distance.</ref> On top of the shield there is a silver crown in the shape of fortress wall, with seven towers. (The crown represents the fact that the locality is a city. Apart from Bălţi, only the capital [[Chişinău]], and [[Tiraspol]] are allowed to have seven towers, while other cities must limit this number to three or five.) The shield is supported by two rearing silver horses. (The white horse is the traditional symbol of the region, which was part of [[Iaşi County]] before 1812.) Under the shield there is a ribbon with the [[Latin]] inscription ''CIDANT ARMA TOGAE'', meaning ''arms yield to togas''.<ref>In [[ancient Rome]], a [[toga]] was the loose outer garment worn by citizens in public.</ref> ===Flag=== The city's flag is composed of two horizontal strips: a blue one on top, and a silver one on bottom. The shield and archer elements from the coat of arms are also present in the center of the flag. ===Historical symbols=== In the Middle Ages, the archer was featured on the coats of arms of the region. In the 19th century, the city coat of arms was for most of the time a horse head. In the early 20th century, a shield representing an archer, standing on a hill, the sun, and three [[bullrush]] sticks (elements quite sufficient to identify the place where Bălţi is situated in the landscape of the north of Moldova) formed the coat of arms of the Bălţi county, while these and horse elements - the coat of arms of the city proper. == Administration == '''Bălţi Municipality''' is a [[Administrative divisions of Moldova|territorial unit]] of [[Moldova]] (one of its 3 municipalities not subordinated to other territorial units; it has the status of municipality since 1994), containing the city itself, and the villages of [[Elizaveta]] (also called Elizavetovca) and [[Sadovoe]]. The Mayor Office ([[Moldavian language|Moldavian]]: ''Primăria'') is headed by the Mayor ([[Moldavian language|Moldavian]]: ''Primar''), and administers the local affairs, while the Municipal Council serves as a consultative body with some powers of general policy determination. It is composed of 35 council members, called counselors, elected every four years. As a result of the last regional elections of local public administration held in June 2007, the [[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova|Communist Party]] (PCRM) holds 21 mandates, 11 mandates are held by representatives of other parties, and 3 mandates by independents. There are two factions in the Municipal Council: the PCRM faction (21 members) and "Meleag" faction (3 independents and 4 representatives of different parties). The mayor of the municipality is elected for four years. [[Vasile Panciuc]], [[Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova|PCRM]], is the incumbent from 2001 and was re-elected twice: in 2003 during the anticipated elections (as a result of a new reform of the administrative division in Moldova), and in 2007. == Population== === Demographics === In accordance with the data submitted by the Department of Statistics and Sociology of the Republic of Moldova, the population of Bălţi municipality was, as of [[1 January]], [[2006]] 127,600, from which 122,700 live in the city of Bălţi, 4,900 in the suburbs (3,500 in [[Elizavetovca]], 1,400 in [[Sadovoe]]<ref>{{ro icon}{{ru icon}}[http://www.balti.md/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=26 History of the city on balti.md]</ref>). As of 1 January 2005<ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web|url=http://www.balti.md/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=314&Itemid=26|title=History - Book "Beltsy - 585", Part I | work=[[Official site of the Balti City Hall]]| date=2007-05-19 | accessdate=2008-05-30}}</ref>, [[ethnicity|ethnic composition]] of Bălţi was as follows: {| class="wikitable" ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" | [[Ethnicity]] ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" | % |- | [[Moldovans|Moldovan]] || align=right | 45,5% |- | [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] || align=right | 25,8% |- | [[Russians|Russian]] || align=right | 24,1% |- | other nationalities || align=right |4,4% |} '''[[2004 Moldovan Census]]''' According to the [[2004 Moldovan Census]], the population of Bălţi municipality was 127,561. The population of the city - 122,669, suburban villages - 4,892; men - 58,418; women - 69,143.<ref>{{mo}}[http://www.statistica.md/recensamint/Populatia_medii_sexe.doc official population statistics]</ref> '''Available census information''' The population of Bălţi in accordance with available census data.<ref>{{mo}}[http://www.statistica.md/recensamint/Populatia_toate_recensamintele.xls official census data]</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- align=center ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Year||1897||1930||1959||1970||1979||1989||2004 |- ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" |Population||18,500||30,570||67,666||105,505||126,950||161,475||127,561 |} In 1897 the first [[Russian Empire Census]] was carried out; in 1930 - the census of Romania (according to which of the 30,570 inhabitants of the city, 14,200 were Jews, 8,900 Romanians, 5,400 Russians and Ukrainians, 1,000 Poles; 14,400 were Christian Orthodox, 14,250 Judaic, 1,250 Romano-Catholic; in 1939 another Romanian census was carried out, but its data was never processed because of the beginning of the [[World War II]]); in 1959, 1970, 1979, 1989, Soviet Union population censuses were carried out. '''Ethnic Groups, 2004 '''<ref>{{mo}}[http://www.statistica.md/recensamint/Nationalitatea_de_baza.xls official ethnicity statistics]</ref>: {| class="wikitable" ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" | [[Ethnicity]] ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" | Number ! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" | % |- | [[Moldovans|Moldovan]] || align=right | 66,877 || align=right | 52.4 % |- | [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] || align=right | 30,288 || align=right | 23.7 % |- | [[Russians|Russian]] || align=right | 24,526 || align=right | 19.2 % |- | [[Romanians|Romanian]] || align=right | 2,258 || align=right | 1.8 % |- | [[Poles|Pole]] || align=right | 862 || align=right | 0.7 % |- | [[Jews|Jew]] || align=right | 411 || align=right | 0.3 % |- | [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] || align=right | 297 || align=right | 0.2 % |- | [[Gypsies|Gypsy]] || align=right | 272 || align=right | 0.2 % |- | [[Gagauz people|Gagauz]] || align=right | 243 || align=right | 0.2 % |- | other || align=right | 1,527|| align=right | 1.2 % |- | not declared || align=right | 183 || align=right | 0.1 % |} === Religion === At the last census<ref>{{mo}}[http://www.statistica.md/recensamint/Religia.xls official religion statistics]</ref>, 90.7% of the population (110,961 people) identified themselves as [[Christian Orthodox]], 2.1% (2,609 people) as [[Baptist]], 0.8% (990 people) as [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholic]], 3.2% (3,960 people) as belonging to other religious groups, none more than 0.5%: 576 people as [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]], 487 people as [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]], 296 as [[Methodism|Methodist]], 166 as [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicalist]], 106 as [[Muslim]], 77 as [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterianist]], 47 as [[Old Believers]], 44 as [[Reformed churches|Reformed]], 2161 as followers of other religions 0.4% (544 people) as [[atheism|atheist]], and 2.7% (3,304) as [[agnosticism|agnostic]]. === Social aspects === The post-independence decrease in the city population is mainly due to [[Economy of Moldova|economic]] and [[Demographics of Moldova|demographic]] situation of Moldova, which prompted a wave of permanent or temporary emigration. Remittances from the migrant workers account for 30% of Moldova's [[Gross domestic product|GDP]], the highest percentage in all of Europe.<ref>{{ro icon}}[http://www.ziua.ro/display.php?id=214287&data=2007-01-17 Romanii din strainatate vor sa revina in tara]</ref> Often, elderly relatives and children of these workers are left to live in Bălţi. Due to that, in Bălţi, many children are left with minimal parental supervision for months, or more. {{Fact|date=December 2007}} The majority of the population of Bălţi is bilingual ([[Moldovan language|Moldovan]] and [[Russian language|Russian]]). About half of the city also understands and/or speaks [[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]. ==Civil society== Bălţi is a source of civil society development both locally and nationwide. Bălţi is home to numerous independent and apolitical organisations such as ''Second Breath'', one of the Moldovan [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]]s for care of socially vulnerable persons, ''Tinerii pentru Dreptul la Viata'' ("Youth for the right to live"), a youth organisation. == Economy == {{main|Economy of Bălţi}} Most of the city's industry centers on [[food processing]], notably in the production of flour, sugar, and wine. [[Manufacturing]] of furniture and agricultural machinery also plays an important role in Bălţi's economy. === Shopping === Bălţi has several major [[Chain store|shopping chain]] outlets, such as the German [[METRO AG|Metro Group AG]], Ukrainian [[Fourchette]] and Moldovan [[Fidesco]]. Numerous shops, can be found in the central (retail), eastern (en gros) and northern (retail) parts of the city. The biggest shopping galleries are located in the center and in the Dacia district (north) of the city. Souvenir boutiques are mostly found around the central square Vasile Alecsandri. The central market, busy from early morning, and its historical building offer just about anything from genuine butcher's products, all varieties of fresh vegetables and fruits, to a new dog. === Manufacturing === This city is an important economic center, with [[manufacturing]] playing an important role. Besides traditional for Moldova [[wine making]], [[sugar]], [[meat processing]], [[flour milling]], oil production, and [[light industry]] in general, Bălţi is the center for manufacturing of [[agricultural machinery]], of various [[construction]] materials, fur, textile, chemical and furniture industries. A mammoth Soviet-type [[conglomerate]] 8,000-worker factory (called "Lenin" before 1989 and "Răut" afterwards) produced a large variety of machine building products for consumer or industry use, from [[Ironing|irons]] and [[Telephone|telephone sets]] to [[sonar]] equipment for [[Military history of the Soviet Union|Soviet military]] [[submarine]]s. However, due to swift changes in the economic environment after the breakdown of the Soviet planned economy system, the manufacturing base of the city has severely suffered. Nevertheless, more recently, new economic ties are being created, with collaboration and direct investment mostly from the European Union.{{Fact|date=May 2008}} === Services === The [[service sector]] has developed after 1989 to cover little more than the basic needs of the population. A variety of small private stores and supermarkets opened. Also, there are six public-owned and four private-owned markets; these are places where small-scale businessmen or women can for a tax trade different goods: imported or local-made [[clothing]] (quite often [[counterfeit]]) or [[Agriculture|agricultural products]] from [[farms]] in the villages neighboring Bălţi. More recently several supermarket chains have started opening stores in the city. === Energy and utilities === The main energy supply of the city comes from the local [[electric energy|thermoelectric plant]] ''CET Nord'', which uses a variety of imported [[carbon-based fuel]] (easier to obtain and cheaper than [[oil]]). The city is well-connected by [[high-voltage lines]], and there are recent plans for the construction of a new line. Russian-imported natural gas is distributed to households. Winter heating is partially distributed centrally throughout the city by pipelines. Although the city was often left without [[electricity]] and [[heating]] during the economic upheaval of the nationalist rule of 1994-2001, it has experienced no shortages or interruptions ever since the modernised Communist Party gained the elections. The drinking water is supplied into the pipes from a network of local [[artesian wells]] (which are insufficient) and from the river [[Dniester]] through a 60 km long [[Pipeline transport|pipeline]] connecting Bălţi to [[Soroca]] (which is not economically feasible{{Fact|date=April 2008}}). === Tourist industry === ==== Hotels ==== *Lidolux Hotel Bălţi *Hotel Bălţi (former Basarabia) *Hotel Tinereţe ====Nightclubs==== The night life in the centre of Bălţi is mainly concentrated around the central ''Vasile Alecsandri square'', which, together with adjoining Independence street and other central squares, is one of the biggest [[esplanade]]s in Europe. Numerous cafés and restaurants with international cuisine can be found there. Most of the city's feasts take place here. One of the favourite pastimes of Baltiers is an evening stroll along the ''Independence street'' and ''Vasile Alecsandri square''. Bălţi is home for two of the biggest clubs in the north of Moldova. ''The Soho Club'', 500m from the city centre, in the Palace of Culture the and Convention Centre of the "Răut" Company, is known for its 1980-style parties on Thursdays. ''The A-Club'', located near the [[Bălţi-Slobozia Railway Station]], is known for its after parties on weekends for younger visitors, as well as an after-work Wednesday party. ===Military=== <!---be nice to have name of base here. This stuff should be under the article for the base maybe.---> The 1st [[Motorised infantry|motorized infantry]] [[brigade]] "Moldova" of the [[Military of Moldova|Moldovan army]] (out of a total of 6 brigades - three infantry, one artillery, one airborne and one anti-aircraft) is located in Bălţi. A unit of [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] "''[[Tochka-M]]''" short-range rockets, each carrying 500 kg of conventional explosive, was known to be based in the city. No up to date information is available. ==Media== *''[[Deca-press]]'', the oldest independent press agency in the north of the country *''[[Spros i Predlojenie]]'', a major Russian-speaking daily newspaper serving northern Moldova ==Transportation== {{main|Transport in Bălţi}} === Public Transport === Passenger transport in Bălţi is mainly carried out by the Bălţi Trolleybus Authority and Bălţi Bus Authority, as well as by private bus, minibus and taxi companies. The total amount of transported passengers in Bălţi for 2004 was 35,4 million passengers.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} ==== Buses and minibuses ==== The Bălţi Bus Authority (B.B.A.) provides for 10 regular bus routes in Bălţi and suburbs. There are also private bus and minibus services, which are not regulated by the B.B.A. There are around 25 minibus lines in Bălţi and its [[agglomeration]]. ==== Trolleybuses ==== There are 3 [[trolleybus]] lines in Bălţi, the fourth line being planned to be constructed in 2007-2008. Most trolleybuses used by the Bălţi Trolleybus Authority (B.T.A.) are different modifications of the Soviet [[Trolza|ZiU]] and Czech [[Škoda Works|Škoda]]. {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" | Line ! Length ! In service from ! Number of stations ! Serviced by |- | [[Image:1.png|30px|Line 1]] | [[Line 1 (Bălţi Trolleybus)|Molodovo &ndash; Aeroportul Bălţi-Oraş]] | ?.?&nbsp;km / ?.? miles | 1970? | ? | B.T.A. |- | [[Image:2-.png|30px|Line 2]] | [[Line 2 (Bălţi Trolleybus)|Gara Bălţi-Slobozia &ndash; Cartierul "Dacia"]] | ?.?&nbsp;km / ? miles | 1970? | ? | B.T.A. |- | [[Image:3-.png|30px|Line 3]] | [[Line 3 (Bălţi Trolleybus)|Combinatul de Carne &ndash; Autogara]] | ?.?&nbsp;km / ? miles | 1970? | ? | B.T.A. |- | [[Image:4-.png|30px|Line 4]] | [[Line 4 (Bălţi Trolleybus)|Centru &ndash; Cimitirul]] | ?.?&nbsp;km / ? miles | 2008? | ? | B.T.A. |} ==== Taxis ==== Bălţi offers a wide choice of taxi services (more than 5 companies), most of which with a fixed fee in the inner city. Three taxi companies are branches of Moldovan national companies, two taxi companies are Bălţi registered businesses. The "per km/time" fees is currently being enforced by the government through difficult negotiations with taxi trade unions. === Motorways === Bălţi was and is an important transportation hub of [[Moldova]]. The best inter-city transportation is done by coach or van (privately or publicly owned). 135 km of [[Soviet]]-style highway (portions in good or fair condition) connect the city to the capital [[Chişinău]]. By road one can also reach [[Ukraine]] (in about 2 hours) to the north or to the east, and [[Romania]] (1 hour) to the south-west by the [[Sculeni]]-[[Sculeni]] crossing point, which leads to the important Romanian city of [[Iaşi]] (104 km from Bălţi), or to the west by the [[Stânca]]-[[Costeşti]] crossing. The [[Bălţi Inter-City Coach Station]] is one of the biggest in Moldova and provides for regular bus connections to almost any city and village in Moldova, as well as for numerous European and international connections ([[Eurolines]]). === Train Stations === Regular railroad connection to [[Ocniţa]] (north), [[Rezina]] (east) and [[Ungheni]] (south-east), as well as to [[Chişinău]] exists, however it takes today 6 hours to cover the 200 km to Chişinău. The [[railroad]] lines are not electrified, and contain only a single track between stations. Since Moldova gained independence, the railroad lines became the responsibility of [[Calea Ferată din Moldova]] (Railways of Moldova) state company. There are two [[railroad]] stations: [[Bălţi-City Station]] and [[Bălţi-Slobozia Station]] (the name of a city neighborhood), which both serve internal and international traffic. === Airports === {{main|Bălţi-Leadoveni International Airport}} The city also has two operational airports. One of them, [[Bălţi-Leadoveni International Airport]] (colloquially mentioned as Bălţi Airport), 15km north of the city center (near the village of [[Corlăteni]], formerly called Leadoveni), modern by Soviet standards, built in 1980s, where large aircraft can land (one 2,200 meters runway), is officially certified and operates both charter passenger and cargo flights. As of October 2007, it does not operate regular passenger flights. A second airport, for small aircraft, [[Bălţi-City Airport]], is located on the Eastern outskirts of the city. It was the most important airport in the surrounding region during [[World War II]], but currently is only used for municipal and regional public services, agriculture, emergency services and pilot training. == Culture == === Architecture === Cultural venues in the city include: ====Theaters==== *"Eugene Ionesco" Theatre *"Licurici" Republican Puppet Theatre *“B.P.Hajdeu” Republican Drama-Muzical Theatre *“Mihai Eminescu” National Theatre *"Luceafarul" Republican Theatre *Municipial Theatre "Satiricus I.L. Caragiale" * [[Vasile Alecsandri theatre, Bălţi|Vasile Alecsandri theatre]] ====Art galleries==== *"Exhibition of the Union of painters "Constantin Brâncuşi" *Artum Art Gallery ====Churches==== * [http://www.monument.md/arhitectura_religioasa/biserici_piatra/5/ Saint Nicolas Church, Bălţi] (1795). Although [[orthodox]], the building, financed by [[Gheorghe Panaiti]], has a degree of [[catholic]] influence brought in by the architect [[Antuan Weismann]] from [[Galicia (Central Europe)|Galicia]]. * [http://www.monument.md/arhitectura_religioasa/biserici_piatra/23/ Saint Constantine and Elena Cathedral, Bălţi] (1934), [[orthodox]], built in neo-[[Byzantine style]]. The building, at which official opening the Romanian royal family was present, survived almost without visible effects the harsh treatment during the [[Soviet]] era, when it was for most of the time a depot, later to be turned into the municipal museum. * [http://www.monument.md/catalog/case_locuit/355/# Bishopric Palace, Bălţi] (1924-1932), which during the [[Soviet]] time was the main office of the agricultural enterprise-institute "Selectia", and the surrounding park * [http://www.monument.md/arhitectura_religioasa/biserici_piatra/169/ Saint Parascheva Church, Bălţi] (1933), by the bishop [[Visarion Puiu]] * [http://www.monument.md/catalog/biserici_piatra/225/# Archangels Michael and Gabriel Church, Bălţi] (1912-1933) * [http://www.monument.md/arhitectura_religioasa/biserici_piatra/171/ Saint Peter and Paul Church, Bălţi] (1915-1929) * [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian]] [http://www.monument.md/arhitectura_religioasa/biserici_piatra/172/ Saint Gregory Church, Bălţi] (1916) * [[Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Bălţi|Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church]] (1884) * the oldest surviving building, a two-stories boyar house, presently right in the centre of the downtown area, dates back to 1609, but it has been re-constructed and re-modeled many times with total disregard to conservation to the extent that now it simply looks like an odd two-storey building. * [[Monument of Stephen the Great, Bălţi|Monument of Stephen the Great]] (2003) * [http://www.monument.md/catalog/edificii_menire_educationala/90/# others] (see down through the text) * [http://www.monument.md/catalog/case_locuit/370/# others] {{main|Memorials of Bălţi}} The Yiddish song ''“Beltz, Mayn Shtetele”'' is a moving evocation of a happy childhood spent in the [[shtetl]] (little town) Beltz. Its composer Alexander Olshanetsky (1892-1946) had moved to the US from Bessarabia in 1921, the lyrics are by Jacob Jacobs (1892-1972). == Education == {{main|Education of Bălţi}} === Primary and Secondary Education === There are 13 high schools ([[Lyceum]]s):<ref>[http://www.balti.md/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=77 Bălţi schools]</ref> <!--okay to link the following to school articles but not people. People can be externally linked as "named after" in school article--> * Lyceum "Dimitrie Cantemir" * Lyceum "Nikolai Gogol" * Lyceum "Alexander Pushkin" * Lyceum "Vasile Alecsandri" * Lyceum "Mihai Eminescu" * Lyceum "Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu" * Lyceum "Maxim Gorky" * Lyceum "George Coşbuc" * Lyceum "Ştefan cel Mare" * Lyceum "Ion Creangă" * Lyceum "Lucian Blaga" * Lyceum "Mikhail Lomonosov" * Lyceum "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" 6 professional institutions ({{lang-ro|colegii}}) offering the last 3 years of high school edication and 2 years post-high school technical education: * Republican College of Music and Pedagogy * Pedagogical College „Ion Creangă" <!--link school not people--> * College of Medicine (Nursing school) * Professional College of Textile Industry * Polytechnical College * Technical College of Railroads 14 secondary schools (numbered 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 23), 7 professional or professional-technical schools (numbered 1 through 7), and 3 boarding school, including one for visually impaired. === Higher Education === * The [[Alecu Russo University of Bălţi]], the [[Education in Moldova|second biggest university in Moldova]], named after the 19th century [[Moldovans|Moldovan]] illuminist and ethnologist [[Alecu Russo]]. The University houses one of the biggest libraries in the South-Eastern Europe, and is an important member of the implementation of the [[Bologna process]] in Moldova. * Transnistrian Institute of Economy and Law[http://www.nm.md/daily/article/2005/10/06/0701.html] * Moldovan Branch of the non-governmental educational institution "Baltic Institute of Ecology, Politics and Law"[http://www.bu.spb.ru] * Humanist Contemporary Institute These schools teach either in Moldavian, Russian, Ukrainian, English or are mixed. The later case was inherited from the [[Soviet]] system, which provided for education in Russian and Moldavian languages, where mixed schools were created with the administration being carried out in both languages. Today, both Moldavian and Russian languages are used in the administration. == Health Protection == [[Image:RepublicanHospital.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Bălţi Republican Hospital]] The city has a big Republican hospital, another multifunctional municipal hospital, a children's hospital, and a range of other medical facilities (smaller clinics and hospitals, as well as buildings, named poly-clinics, gathering doctors offices):<ref>{{ru icon}}[http://www.balti.md/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=18&id=58&Itemid=40 Health institutions] on balti.md</ref> * Republican Multifunctional Hospital * Municipal Hospital/Clinic * Children's Municipal Hospital/Clinic * Emergency Medical Services Centre (with subsections throughout the city) * Tuberculosis Clinic * Hospital for Mental Illnesses * Hospital of Moldavian Railroads * Network of Family Doctors * Non-Governmental Organisations * Private Hospital/Clinic ''Centre of Laser Therapy "Incomed"'' * Dental Clinic == Sport == * 7 sport schools in Bălţi offer programmes in following sports: ([[Orienteering]], [[Volleyball]], [[shooting sports|Handgun shooting sports]], [[Equestrianism]], [[Basketball]], [[Handball]], [[Weightlifting]], [[Chess]], [[Swimming]], [[Canoeing]], [[football (soccer)|Football]], [[Athletics (track and field)|Athletics]], [[Turism]].[http://www.balti.md/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=39] * Minicipal Stadium "[[Olimpia Bălţi Stadium]]" (home of the [[FC Olimpia Bălţi]]) * [[Olympic size swimming pool|Olympic]] Swimming Pool "Central" * [[Olympic size swimming pool|Olympic]] Swimming Pool "Volna" (open air) * [[FC Olimpia Bălţi]] is a football club playing in the top of the national division == Notable people == <!--really need footnote to prove that person actually lived or lives in Bălţi or is famous if they have no article---> *[[Natalia Barbu]], singer, represented Moldova at the 2007 [[Eurovision]] musical competition *[[Gheorghe Briceag]], political prisoner, dissident, and human rights activist with the [[Helsinki Committee for Human Rights|Helsinki Committee]], recipient of the 2004 [[Homo Homini Award]] *[[Emanuil Catelli]], politician, prefect of Bălţi, killed by the [[NKVD]] *[[Iosif Chisinevschi]], communist politician *[[Eugenio Coşeriu|Eugen Coşeriu]], philologist, founder of the School of Linguistics at [[Tübingen University]] *[[Lia van Leer]], founder and director of the International [[Jerusalem Film Festival]] *[[Marian Lupu]], politician, speaker of the [[Parliament of Moldova]] since 2005 *[[Anatol Pânzaru]], actor and producer of theatre *[[Ion Pelivan]], lawyer and politician, co-leader of the Moldavian National Party, minister of the exterior of the [[Moldavian Democratic Republic]], killed by NKVD *[[Ştefan Pirogan]], politician, mayor of Bălţi 1923-1934, political prisoner, killed by NKVD *[[Vadim Pirogan]], political prisoner and dissident *[[Colea Răutu]], Romanian movie star *[[Leonte Rautu]], communist politician *[[Nicolae Testemiţanu]], Moldovan physician, surgeon, hygienist, and politician *[[Vadim Vacarciuc]], weight lifter, 1997 [[World Champion]] *[[Mihai Volontir]], movie star *[[Stela Popescu]], Romanian actress and singer == International Relations == === Sister cities === *{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Stryi]], [[Ukraine]] (from 1980) *{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Smolyan]], [[Bulgaria]] (from 1985) *{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Larissa]], [[Greece]] (from 1986) *{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Miercurea-Ciuc]], [[Romania]] (from 1993) *{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Gyula]], [[Hungary]] (from 1995) *{{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Orsha]], [[Belarus]] (from 1996) *{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[İzmir]], [[Turkey]] (from 1997) *{{flagicon|North Korea}} [[Kaesong]], [[North Korea]] (from 1997) *{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine|Khmelnytskyi]], [[Ukraine]] (from 1997) *{{flagicon|USA}} [[Lakeland, Florida]], [[USA]] (from 1997) *{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Płock]], [[Poland]] (from 2000) *{{flagicon|Belarus}} [[Vitebsk]], [[Belarus]] (from 2002) *{{flagicon|Greece}} [[Milet]], [[Greece]] (from 2006) === Consulates === *{{flagicon|Ukraine}} Consulate of [[Ukraine]], address: str. Kiev 143 {{commonscat|Bălţi}} {{Municipality of Bălţi, Moldova}} {{Districts of Moldova}} == Notes and References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{sisterlinks|Bălţi}} *{{ru icon}} {{ro}} [http://www.balti.md balti.md - Official site of the Balti City Hall balti.md] *{{ru icon}} [http://www.beltsy.org Beltsy-Online private site about Balti www.beltsy.org] *{{ru icon}} [http://www.beltsy.md Private portal about Beltsy www.beltsy.md] *{{ru icon}} [http://www.beltsymd.ru Private site about Beltsy - www.beltsymd.ru] *{{ru icon}} [http://www.madhouse.md Private networking portal for Beltsy] *{{en}} {{ro}} {{ru icon}} [http://www.deca-press.net/?search=balti Deca-Press: daily city news] *{{en}} {{mo}} {{ru icon}} [http://www.turism.md/eng/city/7/ Turism in Bălţi at ''www.turism.md''] *{{en}} {{mo}} [http://www.usb.md/ Official web site of "Alecu Russo" Balti State University] {{DEFAULTSORT:Balti}} [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Moldova]] [[Category:Bălţi]] [[Category:Districts of Moldova]] [[Category:Counties of Moldova]] [[Category:1421 establishments]] [[Category:Settlements established in the 1420s]] [[Category:Moldova articles needing attention]] [[af:Bălţi]] [[am:በልጺ]] [[an:Bălţi]] [[arc:ܒܠܛܝ]] [[roa-rup:Bălţi]] [[frp:Bălţi]] [[az:Bălţi]] [[be:Горад Белці]] [[be-x-old:Белць]] [[bs:Bălţi]] [[br:Bălţi]] [[bg:Белци]] [[ca:Bălţi]] [[cv:Бельцы]] [[ceb:Bălţi]] [[cs:Bălţi]] [[cy:Bălţi]] [[da:Bălţi]] [[de:Bălţi]] [[et:Bălţi]] [[es:Bălţi]] [[eo:Bălţi]] [[eu:Balti]] [[fo:Bălţi]] [[fr:Bălţi]] [[ga:Bălţi]] [[id:Bălţi]] [[ia:Bălţi]] [[is:Bălţi]] [[it:Bălţi]] [[he:בלץ]] [[ka:ბელცი]] [[sw:Bălţi]] [[ht:Bălţi]] [[lv:Belci]] [[lb:Bălţi]] [[lt:Belcis]] [[hu:Bălţi]] [[mt:Bălţi]] [[ms:Bălţi]] [[nl:Bălţi]] [[ja:バルツィ]] [[no:Bălţi]] [[nn:Bălţi]] [[uz:Bălţi]] [[pl:Bielce]] [[pt:Bălţi]] [[ro:Bălţi]] [[rm:Bălţi]] [[ru:Бельцы]] [[simple:Bălţi]] [[sk:Bălţi]] [[fi:Bălţi]] [[sv:Bălţi]] [[vi:Bălţi]] [[tr:Bălţi]] [[uk:Бєльці]] [[vo:Bălţi]] [[wa:Bălţi]] [[war:Bălţi]] [[zh-yue:伯爾茲]] [[diq:Bălţi]] [[bat-smg:Belcā]] [[zh:伯爾茲]]