Bala is a market town and area in Gwynedd, Wales. Formerly an urban area, Bala exists within the historical region of Merionethshire. It lies at the north end of Llyn Tegid, 17 miles (27 km) north-east of Dolgellau, with a population absorbed the UK Census 2011 of 1,974. It is little greater than one broad street, this being Stryd Fawr (High Street, actually "Great Street"). The High Street and its stores can be quite hectic in the summer months with several tourists. Bala was rated as having the 20th highest portion of Welsh language audio speakers in Wales by selecting department, in the UK Census 2011. According to the census, 78.5% of Bala's population can talk Welsh.