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Balti steppe (also referred to as Beltsy steppe) is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers Dniestr, Răut and numerous lakes and creeks), dominated by grasses and shrubs, located in the Northern part of Moldova characterised by unstable seasons, generally hot summers and cold winters.

Balti steppe has a total surface of 192 thousand ha, from which 2.7 per cent (5.11 thousand ha) are forests.

History

Balti steppe is a visually limitless plain, which inspired medieval scientists. Nevertheless, the untouched natural richness of the northern Moldavian region became known as "Balti steppe" only in the beginning of the last century.

In the Vth century B.C., Herodotus visited the countryside between two rivers Dnister and Prut and described these places as a plain with deep chernozem, reach in grass and well irrigated.

Lithuanian Prince Jogaila spoke of Moldova as a reach and fructiferous country. According to the testimony of Venetian Mateus de Murano, the country was very well located, reach with cattle and all kinds of fruits, pastures are perfect.

Rich natural resources of Balti steppe always attracted nomads. Fleeing their devastating incursions, inhabitants of Balti steppe left the brooded places and hided in forests. French knight Guilbert de Lannoy, who visited these places in 1421, has mentioned insignficant population of the region and almost total absence of forests: we moved through large deserts.

Counsellor of Hungarian King George Reihersdorf (middle of XVIth century) was complaining of travel through empty, uninhabited lands. The scientist wrote the first geographical map, which was kept until today, of Moldavian Principality (1541) with rivers Dnister and Prut, cities and other localities as well as highlighted large steppes.

The map of Moldavian Principality was also written by German diplomat Sigismund von Herberstein. On his map one can see large woodless spaces, in the north - Balti steppe and in the south - Bugeac Steppe

In the XVIIth century, pilgrims Pavel Aleppskii (Syrian deacon) and Ioan Lukianov (Russian preast) traveled on their way to Holy land through Balti steppe. Travellers were striken by the disastrous state of the land that used to blossom: (from old Russian) It better be not ravaged, as no other such can be found, it may yield any kind.

English traveller John Bell, who also visited Balti steppe, wrote about fecund soils and small nice towns - speaking of Balti and other localities situated next to Raut.

Russian geographer K. Laksman described Balti steppe in the beginning of the XIXth century: To the north is located a steppe with almost no trees at all. To the north-west the steppe is not as woodless.

Scientist K. Arseniev mentioned that the north of Bessarabia is a genuine mix of of arid steppes with most fertile pastures, rich meadows and gardens.

Travellers and scientists were always amazed by the contrast between rich natiral resources of Balti steppe and its almost absent population, pitiful state of agriculture, poverty of local population.

Desert, waste, naked steppe... The settling among limitless expanses of Balti steppe happened not "in accordnace" with logic, but "against" it. The life of remote ancestors of Baltiers was full of difficulties and crosses, but they managed to resist.

Poets and personalities about Beltsy steppe

• Moldavian fields, as described by both ancient and contemporary writers, are great in their fertility, by far surpassing the richess of the mountains - "Description of Moldavia", by Dimitrie Cantemir

• Will someone describe Bessarabian steppes, indeed, they do merit a description. However for this, one needs the talent of unforgettable Gogol, who has so beautifully depicted us the steppes of his homeland. And Bessarabian steppes are not less beautiful. - by Constantin Stamati-Ciurea

Archaeological excavations in Balti steppe

First human settlements appeared on the territory of Balti steppe in deep ancent times. Archaeological excavations witness that the humans settled here as early as Stone Age. Digging gardens, building cellars, locals used to find traces of ancient man's activity: hearth remains, primitive silicon instruments of labour, elf-bolts of spears, animals' bones, everyday life objects, decorations.

In 1959, a known Moldavian archaeologist N. Chetraru began to study the paleolith sites in the valley ofo rivers Raut and Ciugur. The most important discoveries for study of this period were found by scientists in the grotto next to Old Duruitori and Chutuleshti villages, as well as Gura Kamenchii, Bobuleshty, Brynzeny (all of the are located 30-40km around Balti).

During archaeological excavations at the north-western outskirts of the city, were found and studied settlements of Chernyakhov culture of IV-III centuries B.C.. Separate fragments of ancient soil ramparts remained untouched. Some unique foundings were also made: silver stirrup, bone amulet, everyday life objects of ancient tribes living here. In 1992, on a big flat hill in the tract called New Beltsy, was found an ancient burial ground with remains of amazing ceramics covered with colored paintings.

Balti steppe

The language of this article is Russian. Moldopodo (talk) 00:11, 23 December 2007 (UTC)Moldopodo

Barrows and legends about them

The first barrows appeared in the country between rivers Dnister and Prut around III - II centuries B.C. During the Bronze Age a great number of barrows appeared in the river valleys and were built until late Middle Ages. By the time the locality of Balti appeared, tens of barrows existed already inthe surroundings. Barrows are soil embankments of conical or hemispherical shape.

Balti steppe

The language of this article is Russian. Moldopodo (talk) 00:11, 23 December 2007 (UTC)Moldopodo

Scientific research

Two varieties of winter barley "Auriu" and "Sokor", produced by the Balti Research Institute of Field Crops, are the most productive in the conditions of unstable moistening of Balti steppe.

See also

Balti, dating from the 15th century, is a major railway junction and the centre of the rich agricultural Balti steppe. Most industries are concerned with processing farm produce, notably flour milling, sugar refining, and wine making, but furniture, agricultural machinery, and fur clothing also are made. Balti has a teacher-training institute and a medical school. Population. (1991 est.) 164,900

References

1. http://www.biotica-moldova.org/ECO-NET/part6-2-2.htm
2. The productivity of winter barley varieties in the conditions of unstable moistening of Beltsy steppe] Personal Authors Staver, L.P. Corporate Authors Research Institute of Field Crops, Beltsy (Republic of Moldova) Publisher Institute of Technical and Economical Information
3. Encyclopedia Britannica

External links

• Grasslands of Moldova
• Balti