Pâclele Mici Mud volcanoes, Protected natural area in Berca, Romania.
Pâclele Mici Mud Volcanoes is a protected natural area in Berca, Romania, where small mud cones stand on a barren surface of 3 hectares. The cones are scattered across dry ground and release cold, gray mud from their tips.
The protected area was officially designated in 1995 to preserve these geological forms. The cones formed thousands of years ago through gas pressure from underground deposits.
The name comes from "Pâclă", a regional word for muddy patches, describing the gray, moist surface. Visitors today see a treeless landscape where people walk between the small cones and take photos of the bubbling openings.
The site is located around 41 kilometers from Buzău and is reached by a gravel road suitable for regular cars. The best time to visit is in the morning or late afternoon, when the heat is less intense and the light is softer.
The ground around the mud volcanoes contains so much sulfur and salt that only a handful of specialized plant species can survive there. In a few spots, small shrubs grow that cope with extreme dryness and salty soil.
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