Balta Alba – Salt Lake, Bird Area and Spa Tradition
Lake Balta Albă lies in the Râmnic Plain immediately south of the main road between Râmnicu Sărat and Brăila. The municipality is crossed by the DN22 national road, which connects the two cities. The lake is brackish, shallow and eutrophic. As a fluvial liman, it was formed by the alluvial damming of an old riverbed of the Râmnic at its confluence with the Buzău.
Nature and Birdlife
Balta Albă is a 1,167-hectare geological and zoological nature reserve. It includes a natural salt lake as well as surrounding peatlands and meadows. In the Balta Albă–Amara–Jirlău area, Balta Albă is a salt lake with a maximum depth of 4 metres that does not freeze over in winter. The entire area is classified as a globally significant area for biological diversity.
The Balta Albă–Amara–Jirlău area is an important breeding and resting area for waterbirds and regularly hosts at least 20,000 migrating waterbirds. During the winter migration, the ROSPA0004 Balta Albă-Amara-Jirlău Special Protection Area includes an important feeding and resting area for red-breasted geese (Branta ruficollis). The same protected area is also important for breeding populations of the Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), purple heron (Ardea purpurea) and ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca).
Spa Resort and Therapeutic Mud
Dumitru Seceleanu laid the foundation for the Balta Albă spa resort by having treatment rooms and the first facilities for treating rheumatic diseases built. The first hotel was built at the resort in 1872. Shortly after its construction, hot and cold baths were put into operation. Research by Carol Davila confirmed the therapeutic properties of the local healing mud.
Lake Balta Albă contains nutrient-rich organic healing muds. The use of sapropelic mud dates back at least to 1840. The Balta Albă area is home to a balneoclimatic spa resort known for its sapropelic mud, which is used to treat rheumatic diseases. Sapropelic mud from Balta Albă was recommended for treating certain rheumatic, joint-related and dermatological diseases.
Mud therapy included external applications at the “la Plaja” campsite as well as treatments at the Balta Alba Spa west of the lake. There is no treatment facility in Balta Albă.
History and Literature
Balta Albă inspired Vasile Alecsandri to write his novella “Balta Albă”, which was published in 1848 in the magazine “Calendarul Albinei”. The development of the spa resort, early bathing culture and literary reception stand alongside the lake landscape.
Rest Area by the Lake
The Balta Albă tourist rest area is located on the DN22 between Râmnicu Sărat and Brăila, directly on the lakeshore. It offers recreation areas, restaurants and various accommodation options.
Other Places
Another place at this destination level is Balta Albă.
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