Bala is a market community as well as community in Gwynedd, Wales. Formerly an urban district, Bala lies within the historical region of Merionethshire. It exists at the north end of Llyn Tegid, 17 miles (27 km) north-east of Dolgellau, with a population absorbed the United Kingdom Census 2011 of 1,974. It is bit greater than one vast street, this being Stryd Fawr (High Street, actually "Great Street"). The High Street and also its stores can be rather active in the summer months with many visitors. Bala was placed as having the 20th highest portion of Welsh language audio speakers in Wales by electoral department, in the United Kingdom Census 2011. According to the census, 78.5% of Bala's population can talk Welsh.