Harghita Băi, Lake Mic

GPS Coordinates:
46.38108 N, 25.63535 E

Swimming and boating are not allowed in Lacul Mic from Harghita Băi. The lunar desert landscape attracts many tourists on that side of the lake. But few know what this white sand underfoot is? In the 1970s, kaolin was extracted in Harghita Băi, a raw material for the ceramic, paper and food industries, which was also used in the manufacture of toothpastes and cosmetics. The materials used to extract kaolin, together with the resulting waste, were deposited in the tailings ponds around the mine, causing the soil to increase in acidity. This led to the emergence of this "magical" lunar landscape. The mine has been closed for a long time, but no one is in a hurry to rehabilitate the area. Nature is trying to recover it, but with no chance of success. The huge amount and instability of the sludge in the dump is a constant threat to the areas below.

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