Focul Viu Lopătari

The Living Fire at Lopatari is one of the most striking natural phenomena in Buzau County, a vent where natural gas seeps from a fissure in the ground and burns continuously, its flames sometimes rising several dozen centimetres. Set on the hills near the hamlet of Terca, in the area of mud volcanoes and geological features that make up the Buzau Land Geopark, the sight is most impressive at dusk and after dark, when the bluish-orange flames light up the surroundings. The gas rises from deep hydrocarbon deposits, and the burning has been self-sustaining for a long time.

The place is reached by a forest track and then a short path through quiet woodland. The wooded hills and open views around it add to the appeal of the trip. Visitors are advised to take care and not approach the flames too closely, and to wear comfortable footwear suited to the hilly terrain.