GALATI

German Galatz, city, capital of Galati judet (county), southeastern Romania. An inland port about 120 miles (190 km) northeast of Bucharest, it is situated on an eminence among the marshes at the confluence of the Danube and Siret rivers, on the southwestern shore of Lake Brates. By the beginning of the 15th century a fishing village, referred to as the village of Galati, was documented; a century later, there was a reference to Schela Galati (schela being an old word for the place where ships are moored for loading and unloading). The port was important for the Turks, who occupied it from the early 16th century until 1829. Its rapid 19th-century development was stimulated by the adoption of free-port status from 1837 to 1883. During World War II, German troops retreating from the Soviet Union in 1944 devastated the town and reduced the population, substantially Jewish, to less than half. Owing to the intensive rebuilding effort since then, Galati has large areas of modern buildings. Galati is a centre of culture. The University of Galati was founded in 1948. The city has theatres, as well as museums of modern art, history, and natural science. Among historic buildings is the fortified Precista Church (15th century). The city is one of the chief ports for Romanian imports and the leading exporter of timber. The country's largest shipyard is at Galati. Industries include metalworking and the production of chemicals, textiles, building materials, and foodstuffs. In the 1970s Romania's largest ironworks and steelworks were completed there. Pop. (1985 est.) 262,216. judet (county), eastern Romania, occupying an area of 1,708 square miles (4,425 square km), bounded on the east by Moldova. The county is bordered in the east by the Prut River and in the south and west by the Siret River, both of which drain southeastward. Amid the county's lowlands and rolling hills lies Lake Brates, Romania's largest freshwater lake, near Galati city, the county capital. Machinery, iron products, textiles, and canned goods are produced in Galati and Tecuci. Galati city is Romania's leading producer of ships. Timber industries operate in Comesti and Ghidigeni. Livestock raising and cereal growing are the major agricultural activities. An agricultural school and a museum of history and science are found in Tecuci. Remains of a 6th5th-century-BC settlement and a Roman fortress are situated in Barbosi village. Carpina and Ghimia villages are fishing resorts beside Lake Brates. Galati has a university. Galati, Tecuci, and Trgu Bujor are centres for highway and railroad connections. Pop. (1987 est.) 635,425.