The ten most famous salt lakes. Reservoirs with the most salty water on Earth: in comparison with them, the water in the Dead Sea will seem like tap water (9 photos)

There are many wonders in the world, and one of them is salt lakes. In general, it is more correct to call them mineral, since the mineralization of water is taken as the basis. If the well-known sodium chloride is found in one thousandth of the water in the lake, then it immediately ceases to be freshwater and becomes salty. Most often, salt lakes are located in arid areas and do not have drains (they are drainless water bodies that are not connected to the World Ocean through river systems).

In Russia

Caspian Sea. Perhaps the Caspian Sea is the most famous unusual salt lake in the world. By the size of its water area, this reservoir belongs more to the category of seas (its length is 371,000 km²), however, by its nature and nature, it is still a lake. The Caspian Sea is a unique natural healing complex, rich in mineral springs and beneficial mud. It also produces oil and gas, the transportation of which, however, leads to water pollution.

Aral Sea. This sea-lake is considered to be “former” today, as it became quite shallow as a result of pumping water from the rivers that feed it. Now the reservoir consists of two separate salt lakes - the Southern Aral and the Northern Aral.

Elton. Elton is considered the largest salt lake in Europe. It is also one of the most mineralized in the world. Until the end of the 19th century, table salt was mined here, now Elton is a popular balneological resort.

Baskunchak. At one time, Baskunchak was dubbed the main "salt mill" of Russia, since it was from its depths that about 80% of salt throughout the country was mined and mined (from 1.5 to 5 million tons of salt per year).

Salt lakes of Russia - an alternative to the Jordanian-Israeli reservoir

In addition to salt, Baskunchak is rich in deposits of therapeutic clays, which attract tourists both from other regions of Russia and from abroad.

In the world

Dead Sea (Israel). This salt lake is known all over the world for its medicinal properties. Millions of tourists annually visit the shores of the Dead Sea to improve the body and restore strength. If we compare this reservoir with other parts of the globe, then the atmospheric pressure here is the highest. At the same time, the oxygen content in the air is 15% higher than in the entire Mediterranean. Thanks to these features, the effect of a natural pressure chamber is created.

Great Salt Lake (USA). The Great Salt Lake is considered the largest salt lake in the Western Hemisphere. From the point of view of treatment and tourism, this reservoir is not of particular interest, but in the industrial sector, its resources are used quite actively. Salt and Glauber's salt are mined here.

Uyuni (Bolivia). Uyuni is a dry salt lake, which today is the largest salt marsh in the world (occupies an area of ​​10,588 km²). The inner part of this desert is covered with a layer of common salt 2-8 m thick. During the rainy season, the salt marsh is covered with a thin layer of water and turns into the world's largest mirror surface. According to scientists, the salt reserve of Uyuni is 10 billion tons.

What is the saltiest lake in the world? The most famous is the Dead Sea in the Middle East, in which, due to the high density of water, it is impossible to drown. But the palm does not belong to him. Several lakes in the world at once have a percentage of salt content greater than the Dead Sea.

Ten most famous salt lakes

Here is a list of the saltiest lakes in the world:

The most salty

All lakes from the list of the most salty (of course, except for Lake Don Juan) have long been a place of salt extraction. Over time, various hospitals were added to the salt mines, because the microclimate that has developed around such lakes has a beneficial effect on the human body, and many diseases can be treated with mud. For example, the salt deposit of Lake Elton began to be regularly developed during the time of Ivan the Terrible, shortly after he conquered the Astrakhan Khanate. During the reign of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna, two tracts were laid for the export of salt, and on February 27, 1747, by decree of the ruling Senate, the "Salt Extraction Commission" was established.

Since the end of the 19th century, Elton has been of exclusively resort importance; salt mining has been discontinued there. But Lake Baskunchak combines "two in one". Here, not only salt is mined, but also a whole bunch of diseases are treated. Baskunchak's salt is the purest table salt in the world, covering up to 80 percent of the needs of the Russian market.

Lake Baskunchak is also famous for the fact that in the 60s of the last century a track was built on it to set All-Union speed records. As a result, from 1960 to 1963, 29 records were set, including 19 international ones. The maximum speed was 311.4 km / h. In the future, due to the ongoing development of the salt deposit and the deterioration of the hydrological situation, the route, where there was a 13-kilometer straight section, was closed.

The Dead Sea is widely known as an international resort, among the five record holders it has the largest area and the most developed infrastructure. Despite this, salt mining continues there today. But the sea level, unlike its Russian counterparts, is regularly decreasing. However, at great depths, complete shallowing will not occur soon.

Lake Assal in the small African state of Djibouti is located just 5 kilometers from the Indian Ocean and 155 meters below its level. It occupies the crater of an extinct volcano. There is not a single sanatorium on the lake, which lies in a very turbulent (in a social sense) region of Africa. Salt is only mined here and delivered by caravans to neighboring Ethiopia.

Antarctic phenomenon

Lake Don Juan was discovered in 1961, and was named after the helicopter pilots who first discovered it: Don Ro and John Hickey. Obviously, when they gave the name, they decided to beat the famous name of Don Juan in literature, and the English "John" was translated into Spanish. At the time of discovery, the water temperature was -30 degrees Celsius, but due to the high salt content, the lake did not freeze. Its exact description was obtained only in the 70s of the last century.

The reference book for 1977 states that the area of ​​the lake is 0.25 km2, and its average depth is about 30 centimeters. Twenty years later, the area and depth of the reservoir greatly decreased. Today it is just a very large salt puddle of 3 hectares with an almost perfectly flat bottom. No life, including bacteria, has been found in the lake.

It is located in an area of ​​Antarctica called Victoria Land, in the Wright Valley. The average salinity is 402 ppm, some measurements show a value of 413. Lake Don Juan is described as a point of entry to the surface of groundwater with high salinity. Due to the unique natural conditions - constant strong winds and high dryness of the air - the water evaporates, leaving the substances brought in the reservoir. Due to the high concentration of salt, the lake does not freeze even at -53 degrees Celsius.

All these reservoirs have a very high salt concentration, exceeding the salinity of the World Ocean by more than an order of magnitude. Which of them is more worthy of the title of "the most salty lake in the world" than others? In absolute terms, this is Elton - 500 ppm. But sometimes, with an abundance of meltwater, the lake becomes much fresher, restoring its primacy in dry years. And the Dead Sea, with the ongoing shallowing, has good "prospects" after some time to seize the sole leadership. This lake has the greatest depth and area and, as a result, the largest volume of water and the total amount of minerals.

salt lake near the sea

Answer options for your crossword puzzle

LIMAN

ARAL

• Lake killed by the desert
• Lake in Kazakhstan
• famous sea-lake
• Sea-lake
• Asian sea-lake
• Troubled sea-lake
• The sea, which is actually a lake
• drying lake
• Sea-lake in Kazakhstan
• Salt lake-sea

ABUSHKAN

AJIGOL

AKSOUT

ALAKOL

AMADIES

BASKUNCHAK

VAN

WANDA

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Nature that can heal: the saltiest lakes in Russia

In Russia, there are many salt lakes that are unique in their composition and healing properties. Almost every region has a similar reservoir, which has its own special history and is covered with legends. Salt lakes are always popular among vacationers.

Russian salt lakes are in no way inferior to the famous Dead Sea. Let us dwell in more detail on the features of several reservoirs rich in deposits of therapeutic mud and mineral salts.

The largest salt lake in Russia is Kulundinskoye. It is located in the Altai Territory and is even called the "Altai Sea" by the locals. It is considered a slightly saline body of water (salinity is about 11%), after swimming in it, no plaque remains on the body. The diameter of Kulunda Lake is 35 km, so the shores are lost in the distance. In summer, the water temperature can warm up to +26 degrees.

203 properties in Altai Krai

Lake Tambukan is located near Pyatigorsk. At the bottom of the lake there are several tons of therapeutic mud, which is systematically mined for use in medicine and cosmetology. It is noteworthy that Tambukan Lake has an almost perfect oval shape.

48 properties in Pyatigorsk

Baskunchak is located in the Astrakhan region, a little north of the Caspian Sea. It is divided into Upper, Lower and Middle Baskunchak. The reservoir is a kind of depression on the top of a salt mountain, thousands of meters deep into the earth. The area of ​​the lake is 106 km², and its greatest depth is 3 meters. Salinity is 300%. About 1,500 tons of salt are extracted from the lake annually, which is 80% of the total production in the Russian Federation. The deposits of therapeutic mud successfully cure many diseases.

81 properties in Astrakhan Oblast

Elton - Europe's largest salt lake is one of the most interesting sights of the Volgograd region. The area of ​​the reservoir is 152 km², the shape is close to a circle. It is self-planting, in the off-season it becomes a refuge for migratory birds. Salinity can range from 200 to 500%. The mineralization of Elton is twice that of the Dead Sea. Mineral salts give the water a golden-pink hue, which is why the name is translated as "golden lake".

Chany is the largest salt reservoir in Western Siberia and is located in the Novosibirsk region. Most of the lake is located in the forest-steppe. The area is 1500-2000 km². There is a legend that says about the presence in the reservoir of a giant snake that devours bathing people. Resting on the lake is not always safe because high waves rise in bad weather - there have been several cases of death.

225 properties in Novosibirsk Oblast

Bulukhta is the second largest salt lake after Elton in the Volgograd region.

Don Juan (lake)

It is a bitter-salty drainless reservoir. The boundaries of the lake are constantly changing, the reservoir itself is extremely swampy, has a muddy bottom. On the banks of the reservoir there is a rare bird listed in the Red Book - the imperial eagle.

166 properties in Volgograd Oblast

Collapse - the reservoir is the main attraction of Sol-Iletsk. The lake is artificial. The concentration of salt in it exceeds 200 grams per liter of water. Due to the beneficial properties of water, several medical and health facilities are located on the shore of the lake. Interestingly, the rhombuses depicted on the coat of arms of Sol-Iletsk are a reflection of the salt extracted from Lake Razval.

38 properties to stay in Sol-Iletsk

On Russian salt lakes you can not only relax, but also restore your health. As a rule, for some diseases, patients are prescribed not only medication, but also spa treatment. The beneficial effect of salt lakes on the human body, with the help of them, various skin diseases, gynecological, musculoskeletal diseases and others are treated.

There are several contenders for the title of the saltiest sea in the world. The fact is that the salinity level of each of the reservoirs varies from year to year depending on precipitation and other climatic features. In this article we will talk about the most salty lakes in the world.

Dead Sea

Despite the name, this is a lake, because other bodies of water do not flow into it. It is located on the border of Jordan and Israel. Its area is small, only 810 square kilometers.

This is the most amazing waterfall in the world, producing a lasting impression on tourists. It is a popular resort and hospital. The water is so salty that it is impossible to drown in it even if you cannot swim.

The concentration of salts in the Dead Sea is 30-40% (depending on the time of year and geographical region), and in the Mediterranean Sea 3-4%.

The waters of the Dead Sea have a beneficial effect on human health.

The saltiest body of water in the world is Lake Assaal, not the Dead Sea

For nature, lake waters are really “dead”: there are no fish, algae and phytoplankton do not grow here.

Located in the center of Djibouti and is the lowest point in Africa. In terms of salinity, Assal is not inferior to the Dead Sea, but it is not so familiar to tourists.

Its coast is surrounded by highly saline soil, from which salt is then mined.

Lake Elton

The most salty lake in Russia is located in the Volgograd region near the border with Kazakhstan. The unusual name of the lake comes from the Mongolian "Altyn-nor", which translates as "gold mine". Salinity level - 20-50%. This is the saltiest and largest lake in Europe.

Its depth in summer is only 7 cm in summer and one and a half meters in spring.

Until the end of the century before last, salt was mined in its waters. At the beginning of the 20th century, a sanatorium and balneological resort of the same name was opened.

Lake Don Juan

Located in Antarctica on Victoria Land in the Wright Valley. Its salinity is 40%. It is it that claims to be the most salty lake on Earth.

The lake is named after the helicopter pilots who discovered it: Don Roe and John Hickey, and not after the great seducer. The reason for its incredible salinity lies in the high salt content in the sedimentary rocks and glaciers that feed the lake. Because of this, Lake Don Juan does not freeze even in winter.

The most salty lake in the world is an extraordinary and amazing natural phenomenon. There are similar reservoirs on almost all continents. Antarctica is no exception in this case. In America and Russia, there are entire zones where there are a huge number of such reservoirs. But what is the saltiest lake in the world?

Dead Sea

The list of the largest lakes in terms of area is headed by the Dead Sea. Many may not agree with this. It's not a lake, it's a sea. However, it is not. is endorheic, as it has no outlet to any of the oceans. This lake is located on the border between Jordan and Israel. This body of water is not very large. Its length is 76 kilometers, and its width is only 18, the maximum depth is 370 meters. The total area of ​​the Dead Sea is 810 m2. Gradually the lake decreases in size.

Only one of the large rivers flows into this reservoir - the Jordan. The Dead Sea is also fed by small streams. However, the water in the lake quickly evaporates, since the air temperature here often drops below 40 ° C. Salts, on the contrary, remain and accumulate. In addition to fresh rivers, the Dead Sea is also fed by mineral springs located on its southern coast. As a result, the concentration of salts only increases and is approximately 28%. And in some places this figure reaches 33%. For comparison, you can take the waters of the oceans. Here the salt concentration is a maximum of 4%. The Dead Sea itself flows near its northern shores. Here the salt concentration is only 24%. It is in this part that it flows into it. As you can see, this information about this reservoir changes every year. After all, the water level is decreasing, and the salt concentration is increasing.

Lakes have legends too

On the southern shore of the Dead Sea, nature has created amazing pillars. This happened due to the fact that in this part of the reservoir there are much more salts, and the water evaporates quickly enough. One of these pillars resembles a female figure dressed in a cloak. She even has her own name - "Lot's wife." It is connected with one of the biblical legends, which tells how God decided to punish Gomorrah and Sodom. He warned one of the righteous - Lot - about his intention and ordered him to leave the city before its fall, without stopping along the way and without turning around. However, Lot's wife violated the ban and was eventually punished by being turned into a pillar of salt.

The most salty lake in the world: is there life in it?

The name of the Dead Sea speaks for itself: there is no life in it. There are no fish and no algae grow here. The banks of the reservoir are also lifeless. Even the surface of the Dead Sea does not resemble the surface of the water. It is more like an oily, metallic liquid with white salt flakes in smaller places.

However, scientists argue that this reservoir is not completely dead. Salt-loving bacteria live in it, and sometimes even fungi are found.

Features of the Dead Sea

The world's saltiest lake has many features. First of all, its waters are saturated with various minerals, such as iodine, sodium, potassium and boron. Even ancient healers knew about the beneficial properties of the saline solution of this reservoir. Dead Sea water helps to heal all kinds of skin diseases.

However, swimming in this lake is almost impossible. After all, salt water can corrode the skin. If such a solution gets into any wound, then there will be not very pleasant sensations. That is why swimming in the Dead Sea is not so pleasant. This is rather the lot of exotic lovers or those who are forced to take such water procedures as prescribed by doctors.

By the way, diving in the Dead Sea is difficult, since its waters are a thick saline solution. A person can only swing on the surface of the lake, like a float. Drowning in the Dead Sea is simply impossible. In addition, the coast of the reservoir is considered a rather low place on land. It is located only 0.4 kilometers below the level of the oceans.

Lake Don Juan

This is one of the most salty lakes in the world. However, few people know about its existence. Lake Don Juan is located on a glacial continent - in Antarctica. To be more precise, on the lands of Victoria in the Wright Valley. By the way, the hydronym has nothing to do with the famous womanizer - the lake is named after those people who first discovered it. They were helicopter pilots John Hickey and Don Ro. They discovered the lake in 1961. It is very small in size. Around 1998, it was just under 100 meters deep, 1 kilometer long and 400 meters wide.

At the moment, the reservoir has significantly decreased in size. Now its depth is only 10 centimeters, length - 300 meters, and width - 100 meters. Water from it evaporates quickly enough. At the same time, Don Juan Lake does not dry up completely. It is supported by underwater sources. After all, this reservoir is one of those places where groundwater comes to the surface.

Why is the lake salty

Scientists suggest that the lake became salty due to the high content of salts in sedimentary rocks. It is through them that the melt water from the springs passes. These springs are the main recharge of Don Juan Lake. At the same time, the air in the valley is very dry. In such conditions, water evaporates much faster. At the moment, Lake Don Juan is ahead of the Dead Sea in terms of salt concentration. Now this figure is 40%. Due to such a fairly high concentration, the reservoir does not freeze even at a temperature of -40 o C.

As you can see, Lake Don Juan is the saltiest lake in the world. But in size it is much inferior to the Dead Sea. Interest in this reservoir arose among scientists also because the conditions in this, so to speak, water area (intense cold, aridity, hypersalinity and high ultraviolet radiation) are very similar to those on the surface of Mars.

Lake Elton

The largest salt lakes in the world are a real miracle of nature. In Volgograd there is a reservoir Elton. This is the largest lake with mineral waters in all of Europe. The shape of this reservoir is almost round. The lake is located in a depression between salt domes. At the same time, there is no runoff from the reservoir. The most amazing thing is the color of the water in It has a reddish tint.

This color is given to Lake Elton by the bacteria living in it, which are representatives of the species Dunaliella salina. Not so long ago, salt was mined here.

P O CH E M U CH K A

There are several contenders for the title of the saltiest lake in the world. Let's take a closer look at these lakes, because each of them is unique in its own way.

1. Dead Sea

Perhaps the most famous contender. Although it is called the sea, in fact it is a lake, since it is endorheic, that is, it does not have access to the ocean.

The Dead Sea is located on the border between Israel and Jordan. It is quite small in size: 76 kilometers long and 18 kilometers wide. Its area is 810 km2, and its depth is about 370 m, and it is constantly decreasing. Only one large river, the Jordan, flows into the Dead Sea, as well as several small rivers and streams. For centuries, the Jordan has been bringing its waters here, which evaporate intensively - the temperature here rarely drops below 40 ° C - and the salts remain and accumulate. In addition to the waters of the Jordan River, the Dead Sea feeds a large number of mineral springs that gush on its southern coast. As a result, the concentration of salts in the Dead Sea is, on average, 28%, and in some places reaches 33%. For comparison, the concentration of salts in the World Ocean is about 3-4%. The most fresh water ("only" 24%) is in the north of the Dead Sea - where the Jordan River flows into it. The further south, the saltier the water in the lake. At the southernmost tip, even salt pillars are formed from the drying supersaturated salt solution. One of them resembles in its outlines a female figure in a cloak and is called "Lot's wife". This name is closely connected with the biblical legend, according to which God decided to punish the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, located in the Dead Sea region, because these cities were mired in debauchery. God warned the righteous Lot about this, ordering him to leave the city on the eve of its destruction, without stopping anywhere and without turning around. But the wife of the righteous, breaking the prohibition of the Lord, looked back, leaving, at her native walls, for which she was punished, turning into a pillar of salt).

Pillar of salt "Lot's wife"

The waters of the Dead Sea are actually dead, as its name says: there are no fish here, no algae grow; its shores are also lifeless. Even the surface of this lake does not resemble water - it is a thick, oily-looking liquid with a metallic sheen and yellowish-white flakes of salt in small places. However, it is not completely "dead": various salt-loving bacteria and even fungi live in its waters.

Dead Sea

Due to such a high concentration of salts, it is impossible to drown in the Dead Sea. It is also impossible to swim or dive - a person can only swing on the surface of the Dead Sea water, like a float. You can safely stretch out with a book on the surface of this unique lake - thick, dense brine will not let you drown. However, it corrodes the skin, and the slightest scratch, when this brine gets on it, begins to hurt. Therefore, swimming in the Dead Sea is the lot of exotic lovers or those who do it according to the doctor's prescription - the healing properties of these waters, as well as the Dead Sea mud, rich in bromine, potassium, sodium and iodine, have been known since the time of the biblical King Herod. Dead Sea water is good for treating skin and other diseases.

You can't drown in the Dead Sea

The coast of the Dead Sea is the lowest place on the land of our planet and lies 400 meters below the level of the oceans.

2. Lake Don Juan

On the glacial continent of Antarctica, in the Wright Valley on the land of Victoria, another lake has been discovered that claims to be the palm for its salinity.

Location of Lake Don Juan

It was named not at all in honor of the famous womanizer, as it might seem at first glance, but in honor of the people who discovered it in 1961 - these were helicopter pilots Don Ro and John Hickey. It is quite small. Back in 1998, it was no more than 100 m deep, its length and width were 1 and 0.4 km, respectively. At the moment, the depth of the reservoir does not exceed 10 cm, and its size is 300 meters long and 100 meters wide. Water evaporates very quickly, but the lake does not dry up completely, thanks to underwater waters. Actually, this lake is a place where groundwater (underground) water comes out.

Lake Don Juan - view from space

The reason for the incredible salinity of the lake, as scientists suggest, is the high salt content in sedimentary rocks through which melt water from springs passes, feeding the lake. The air in the valley is extremely dry, and in such conditions the water evaporates strongly.

Lake Don Juan

Another reason for the interest of scientists in the lake is the possible similarity of conditions in its vicinity with the surface of Mars. It is believed that there are many lakes on Mars similar to Don Juan.

3. Lake Elton

Lake Elton (the name probably comes from the Mongolian "Altyn-Nor" - a gold mine) is located in Russia, in the Volgograd region, not far from the border with Kazakhstan. This is the largest mineral lake in Europe (152 km2). The depth of this amazing lake is only 5-7 cm in summer and up to 1.5 m in spring.

Lake Elton

The mineralization of Elton waters reaches 200-500 g/l, which is one and a half times more than that of the Dead Sea. Until 1882, salt was mined here. In 1910, a sanatorium was built on the shores of Lake Elton. Since 2001 Lake Elton has been a part of the Eltonsky Natural Park.

The shape of the lake is almost round. It is located in a depression between large salt domes and has no runoff. It is fed by 7 rivers, and at the bottom there are outlets of salty springs. The climate in the Elton region is arid, with frequent strong winds. The level of Lake Elton is 15 m below sea level.

View of Lake Elton from space

The waters of Lake Elton have a reddish hue, which is given to it by bacteria of the species Dunaliella salina.

4. Lake Baskunchak

Lake Baskunchak is located near Lake Elton - in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region (Russia).

Lakes Elton and Baskunchak (Google Map)

Its salinity reaches 37% (370 g/l). This unique body of water with an area of ​​100 km2 is a depression on the top of a salt mountain, leaving its base thousands of meters deep into the earth and covered by a layer of sedimentary rocks.

Lake Baskunchak

The lake is fed mainly by springs. Baskunchak's salts are unusually pure (99.8%), "like ice", sodium chloride NaCl - table salt. That is why it is here that 80% of all salt in the Russian Federation is mined, for which it was nicknamed the "All-Russian salt shaker". Salt mining began here in the 8th century. The depth of salt in the lake reaches 6 km, and numerous springs flowing into it daily replenish its supply by more than 2.5 thousand tons, so that the salt reserves here are practically inexhaustible.

In some places of Lake Baskunchak, special
wooden stumps - salt crystallization points.

Photo of Lake Baskunchak

Almost the entire surface of the lake is covered with salt, and you can walk on it.

The air near Lake Baskunchak with a high content of bromine and phytoncides, as well as its + silt mud, have a healing effect, which guests of the local sanatorium-preventorium "Baskunchak", located on the shore of the lake, can appreciate.

Swimming in Baskunchak lake

Deposits of minerals dissolved in water are one of the main wealth of our country. They are the material for water treatment. Such a geological asset is valuable due to the composition and regime of seasonal temperatures (both of which are associated with medicinal properties). Visiting the salt lakes of Russia, in addition to contemplating the "cosmic" landscapes (what the shores of such reservoirs look like), you will cure diseases of the skin and respiratory tract.

The most famous salt lakes in Russia – Vats, and Disintegration.

This is the largest salt lake in Russia by area. Its size during the spill reaches 2,000 square kilometers! This is a system of reaches, which are connected by dozens of channels. They were formed on the territory of today's Novosibirsk region, on land adjacent to the settlement of Novoyablonovka. A dirt road leads from this small village to Chany, disappearing during the thaw. The large open space allows organizing seasonal navigation in the main water area of ​​the lake. The vats are dangerous in bad weather - the waves can turn over a small ship. The nearest railway station to this location is Chistoozernoe. This lake has no medicinal value.

Almost all salt lakes in Russia are located in its most arid (arid) zone - at the point where the borders of our state and the Republic of Kazakhstan converge.

As already mentioned, the salty medicinal lakes of Russia are located at the junction of the Central Asian country closest to us.

The Elton lowland is, in fact, a neutral zone with Kazakhstan, although the lake itself belongs entirely to the Russian Federation, namely, the Volgograd region. This reservoir has the glory of the lowest of the salt lakes. After all, Elton is several tens of meters below sea level. From the Mongolian language, its name is translated as "golden". It is this shade of water that gives the local algae. The surface here is so saline that it is impossible to drown on it ... You can get here through the railway junction of the same name. There is a road from Bykovo and Pallasovka. Read our full review about this amazing lake:

The water of this natural reservoir is called "bitter-salty". Thanks to this, he was in the presented rating. The unique taste of the lake is given by the springs that flow here. Therefore, from the Kalmyk language, the indicated hydronym is translated as "spring". In the list of the most mineralized lakes, it comes next. Bulukhta is located in the same place - in the Volgograd region, in the depths of the Pallasovsky district. Its territory is a semi-desert, equal in area to Israel ... The banks of the "spring" drainless bowl are heavily swamped. You can go to the snow-white surface only along two paths.

"Liquid salt marsh" is popular because only here (out of all the objects on the list) you can find a sandy beach. This is the former edge of a mud volcano. True, grains of quartz in a picturesque desert tract are strongly mixed with salt crystals. However, the locals use the reaches as a river resort. The location of the lake is the southeastern outskirts of the town of Sol-Iletsk (Orenburg region on the border with Kazakhstan). The location is part of an active rock salt deposit. Its concentration here is almost 200 grams per liter of water. Mud baths operate on the coast, exploiting the beneficial properties of the local brine and bottom sediments.

The salt lakes of Russia are far superior in their usefulness to the Dead Sea (which we choose when thinking about where to go on vacation in March). Their water contains more chloride-sulfide and magnesium-sodium compounds, and the lipid complex of silt mud is more active. And brine reflects ultraviolet radiation more strongly (which, in moderate doses, is also recognized as healing).

salt lakes in the resort town of Sol-Iletsk are known for their medicinal properties throughout Russia.

The Iletsk salt deposit was discovered as early as the 16th century, and for several centuries salt mining was carried out here. Quarries and pits that arose as a result of open-cast salt mining were gradually filled with water. "Helped" and the river Peschanka, during the spring floods overflowing for many kilometers. So, on the sites of old salt mines, a unique complex of 7 lakes was formed. Moreover, each lake has its own characteristics and individual healing properties.

The most famous and popular is Lake Razval. The saturation of water with salt in it is higher than in the Dead Sea, and the healing properties of water are in no way inferior to the Israeli source. There are no living plants and organisms in the lake. At the surface, the water is warmer than in fresh water bodies, but at depth the temperature drops, and at the bottom it reaches negative values.

To the east of Razval is Lake Dunino. This body of water is the result of the union of several small lakes on the Dunkin field. The salt content in it is 2 times less than in Razval Lake. In summer, tiny crustaceans less than 15 mm in size live in Dunino, feeding on microalgae. As a result of their vital activity, therapeutic mud is formed at the bottom of the lake, and the water acquires a brown tint.

The oldest of the lakes is Tuzluchnoye. The salt concentration in the lake is low. Once it was completely fresh, but at the next flood, Lake Razval generously “shared” its salt with Tuzluchny. In the lake, the largest layer of therapeutic mud is more than two meters. In terms of its composition and healing qualities, the mud of the lake is comparable to the mud of Pyatigorsk and Anapa.

To the east of Lake Tuzluchnoe is the reservoir of Hungry Funnels, or Lake of Joy. This lake is famous for its special bottom healing mud. According to its healing characteristics, the mud is similar to the mud of the Pyatigorsk resort.

Bolshoe City Lake is located to the north of all other lakes. The water in it is fresh and clean, and is comparable to Lake Issyk-Kul. Many fish and crayfish live in the Big City Lake. People usually bathe in this lake after procedures in salt lakes.

Lake Maloye Gorodskoye is mineralized, with a low salt content. According to the composition of the water, it is often compared with the Caspian Sea.

In the northwest of Lake Razval, Lake Novoye was formed in 1960. Currently, scientists are working on the lake - they are studying the properties of water.

Sol-Iletsk can be reached by train, station "Iletsk-1". In addition, buses run from many nearby cities to the resort city. And between Orenburg and Sol-Iletsk regular taxis run.