BALTA

balta, a town in the russian government of podolia, between the dniester and the bug, 131 m. by rail n.n.w. of odessa. it carries on a large trade in cattle, horses and grain, and has two annual fairs, held at whitsuntide and in june. a variety of industries, such as tallow-melting, soap-boiling, tile-making and brewing, are carried on. the jews form a very considerable part of the population, which in 1867 numbered 14,528, and in 1897, 23,393. balta was in great part destroyed by the russians in 1780.