Lakes of Ocna Sibiului, Salt lakes in Ocna Sibiului, Romania.
Lakes of Ocna Sibiului is a group of salt-water bodies with unusually high salinity levels and black mud deposits along their shores. The lakes occupy the sites of former salt mining operations, and sandy areas border the water.
The lakes formed when abandoned salt mines flooded with water as mining operations ended. This process created multiple connected water bodies at the location over time.
The lakes serve as a gathering place where visitors apply dark mud to their skin, a practice rooted in generations of knowledge about natural healing properties. You can see families engaging in this ritual, especially during warmer months.
Access is straightforward and the site operates for day visits, with parking available nearby. Bring towels, change of clothes, and water shoes since the ground can be rocky.
One of the lakes, Lake Ocnita, is so salty that people float effortlessly on the surface without sinking. This unusual density creates a swimming experience different from what you find almost anywhere else.
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