The Saltwater Fountain in Meresti (Harghita County, Romania)

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The saltwater fountain from Mereşti (Harghita County, Romania) is located on the left bank of the river Homorodu Mic, with access from the street Sós Kut (Salt Fountain). Fountain belongs to the whole community, it is locked and it is cared by an administrator. Is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Fountain is housts in a wooden house, recently renovated but still retains very old elements. On the beam above the door is inscribed the Latin words "ANNO 1801", which is probably only shelter reconstruction year. Saltwater wells from Homoroadelor valleys, including this from Meresti, belong to the civilization and traditions of these places. Brine is used to feed people, to feed animals and curative. Fountain has a rather large depth, the source being captured in an old oak trunk, heightened the surface with fir wood staves. Traditionally, until recently, water was drawn from wells, transported and stored in buckets and tubs only from oak (resistant to the corrosive effects of salt), which is very rare now due to lack of carpenters. As seen from the white salt precipitates, salt water concentration is very high, exceeding 300 g / l (supersaturation). Salt from Meresti belongs to ”Salt Land” (Sóvidék, Salzgebiet) located in the southeastern part of Transylvania. It contains salt deposits from Sovata, Praid, Corund, Odorheiu Secuiesc (Szejke Baths) and Homoroade area (Mărtiniş, Sânpaul, Lueta and Mereşti). The salt was formed about 15 million years ago by deposition on the former lake bottom which is now ranked Transylvanian Basin. Although the salt layer is located at a depth of hundreds of meters, salt manages to break through the layers above and migrate to the surface because of the phenomenon called diapirism.
Sóskút Homoródalmás