Lacul Techirghiol

Lake Techirghiol is the most famous therapeutic lake in Romania, located near Eforie, close to the Black Sea coast, in Dobrogea. It is a salt lake separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land, and its therapeutic value comes from the black sapropelic mud and the salt-rich water, used for more than a century in treating rheumatic, dermatological and other conditions. Spa resorts with treatment facilities have grown up around the lake, where the mud is applied in cures recommended by specialists.

The high salinity allows easy floating, and the calm landscape, with low shores and wetland birds, offers a pleasant contrast to the crowded sea beaches. A local legend links the discovery of the mud's properties to the miraculous healing of an old man and his horse. Practical note: mud treatments are usually done in an organised setting, and those wishing to undergo a cure should inquire at the spa facilities in the area about how it is applied.