Bălţi
Bălţi is the third-largest city in the country of Moldova. It is the major city in the northern part of the country. During the Russian Empire (1812-1917), and later the Soviet era (1940-1990) the name was also spelled Beltsy, from its form in Russian. The city is 135 km north of the capital Chişinău, on the small river Răut, a branch of the Dniester (Nistru). It is located on a hilly landscape that, in the Middle Ages, was covered with forest. This forest has since been almost entirely cut down.
 Municipality of Bălţi (in red) in Moldova | |
| Country |  Moldova |
| Municipality | Bălți |
| Communes | Sadovoe, Elizaveta |
| Founded | 1421 |
| City rights | 1818 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Council |
| • Mayor | Vasile Panciuc, since 2011 |
| Area | |
| • City | 78.00 km2 (30.12 sq mi) |
| • Urban | 41.43 km2 (16.00 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 59 m (194 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • City | 144,000 |
| • Density | 1,909.9/km2 (4,947/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 148,900 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | MD-3100 |
| Licence plate | BL XX 000 |
| Website | www.balti.md |
This short article about a place or feature can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.