Targu Ocna Salt Mine, north-eastern Romania

(April 12th, 2021 / Images: April 2021)

Târgu Ocna Salt Mine is located in the spa town of Târgu Ocna in Bacău County. It is the third largest salt mine and one of the oldest salt mines in Romania. With the Trotuș mine at a depth of 240 m, it hosts the largest installation in the country for the treatment of respiratory diseases. Also in this mine is one of the few places of worship in Romania, which were built in salt mines and are dedicated to Saint Varvara.

The salt mine is still used today for the extraction, processing and marketing of salt in Romania and abroad. Between 90,000 and 120,000 tons of salt are extracted annually.

The Salina Târgu Ocna is one of the oldest salt mines in Romania and is mentioned in documents from 1502 and listed as a salt extraction area since at least 1353.