Open AccessThe Salty Lakes of Ocna Sibiului. Past. Present. Future
Author(s) -
Tania Mihăiescu,
Manuela Cuc,
Mihnea Andrei Mihaiescu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
bulletin of university of agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine cluj-napoca. agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1843-5386
pISSN - 1843-5246
DOI - 10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:9758
Subject(s) - salinity , salt pan , plateau (mathematics) , salt lake , hydrology (agriculture) , salt (chemistry) , geology , environmental science , mineralogy , chemistry , geomorphology , oceanography , structural basin , mathematical analysis , paleontology , mathematics , geotechnical engineering
At the center of the Transyvanian Plateau lies Ocna Sibiului, with its salt deposits which, in places, run up to one thousand meters below the surface. The presence of these deposits has been favored, due the extraction of salt throughout the years causing the formation of the now famous salt lakes. Due to different environmental conditions, lacustrine cuvettes and water quality differ from one lake to another. The studied lakes are considered to be in conection with the salt deposits exposed through minig activities carried on in different time periods. Other lakes in the area already are isolated from salt deposits due to natural sedimentation proceses. The study adresses the lakes which still present a high degree of salinity and are used for balnear purposes, and present, due to various factors, variation of physical-chemical composition throughout the year. Water samples were collected from the main six lakes in Ocna Sibiului (Ocniţa - Avram Iancu; Rândunica; Negru; Fără Fund; Brâncoveanu and Gura Minei). Surveys were carried out in four periods (March-November) during 2012.Water temperature, electrical conductivity (at 25°C) and pH were measured in-situ. The water pH changed from a lake to another. Generally it is within the range of 6.78 to 8.8 highlighting the neutral to slightly alkaline lake water. Salt lake water conductivity values, in the upper layers vary within a wide range, from more than 200 mS cm-1 to 45.7 mS cm-1, with different values from the different lacustrine units. The salt water lakes are characterized by high content of sodium and chlorine ions. The other major ions are present in a small amount. This paper aims to compare the past and present evolution, characteristics and environment of these lakes, , and, based on this and current research, to project a vision of their future and how it will affect the lives of future generations living besides them.