The Basin of Praid is situated on the East coast of the Transsylvanian Basin ("a huge salt cellar") at the base of Gurghiu Mountains. It forms a micro region which is called "The zone of Salt Mines". The geographical zone of the salt mines is unique in its way and the name of "The salt region" comes from the salt mine of Praid.
The first document with this name appears in the 18th century, where the pastures in the zone were inventoried. The Basin of Praid lays around the "Hill of Salt" that covers Praid village and the two another "salt villages": Ocna de Jos and Ocna de Sus. The basin has a triangular form and is oriented at the South to Corund village and at the north-west to Sovata. The basin of Praid is separated from the rest of Transylvania by several hills of around 1000m height.
The Hill of Salt is called by the local people "salt back" (the highest point is 576m), it covers the biggest salt body in the country. Its roots reach underground to a depth of 2,7 - 3km. In horizontal section the salt diapir has an elliptic form, with diameters of 1,2 - 14km. In vertical section the shape resembles a huge mushroom. This irregular form is a characteristic of the salt bodies in Transsylvania. Another example for this is the salt body in Ocna Mures. This salt deposit is one of the biggest in Europe. Its reserve could provide the salt need for Europe for hundreds of years in future. The salt in the Transsylvanian Basin as well as the salt from Praid is very old. Formation took place in the Badenian inferior age - the middle Miocen age, about XX million years ago (question to answer).
(c) in parts by Salina Praid
The region of Praid boasts a huge number of salt features, starting with the salt mine itself, where a visit is highly recommended (Salina Praid), and various possibilities to hike and discover the landscape.
At N 46° 32.526, E 025°06.685 you find the start of a nature trail at the back of the salt hill which leads to various interesting points like a salt canyon, salt outcrops, salt deposits in creeks etc.
To log this Earthcache please answer the following questions via our profile (do not write the answers in your log!!!):
1) how old is the salt?
2) who started mining salt in this region?
3) give an estimation of the height of the mountain slope (to top of tree above when standing at the header coordinates)
Please log right away, you do not have to wait for permission. We will contact you if answers are not correct. Kindly log with a picture of you and your GPSr at the header coordinates (not mandatory), where you find a very special combined salt and karst feature.
Logs without correct answers and/or log pic will be removed.
Enjoy your stay in the region and please remember:
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints, waste nothing but time.