BACAU

city, capital of Bacau judet (county), eastern Romania, near the confluence of the Bistrita and Siret rivers, 150 miles (240 km) northeast of Bucharest. Bacau was an early customs post, where trade routes came together at a ford over the Bistrita. It was first mentioned in documents in 1408. The manufacture of fighter airplanes has become the city's most important industry. Other industries include a paper mill, a footwear factory, and several cloth and textile factories, in addition to wood processors. Foodstuffs and building materials are also produced. Bacau is a cultural centre, with a state theatre, a symphony orchestra, and museums. It is an important road and rail junction and is on the main railway from Bucharest to Chernovtsy, in Ukraine. Pop. (1994 est.) 207,730. judet(county), eastern Romania, occupying an area of 2,551 sq mi (6,606 sq km). The Eastern Carpathians and the sub-Carpathians rise above the settlement areas that are situated in intermontane valleys and lowlands. The county is drained southeastward by the Siret River and its tributaries. It was formerly included in feudal Moldavia. Manufactures of Bacau (q.v.) city, the county capital, include military airplanes, metal products, textiles, and timber. Onesti city, located in the Trotus valley, was designated an industrial area in 1955 and has oil-processing, chemical, and synthetic-rubber factories. Agas and Comanesti are timber centres. Oil wells operate in Molinesti, Zemes, Solont, and Lucacesti. Coal mines are worked near Comanesti and Asau towns, and salt is mined near Trgu Ocna. Borzesti village was the birthplace of Stephan (Stefan) the Great, who declared Moldavia's independence from the Turks in 1503. The regional museum, located in Bacau city, contains Neolithic idols and Dacian pottery and coins found in the surrounding area. Several hydroelectric plants are located on the Bistrita River, north of Bacau city. Railway lines and highways usually parallel the district's river courses. An airport is located near Bacau city. Pop. (1990 est.) 736,300.