Salt Hill Nature Reserve

This 20 ha of protected area is located near DN13B, just Noth-West of Borzont. The thickness of the peat decreases towards the foot of the mountain. Some of its main protected rare plant species are the Achillea impatiens (a species from the tundra regions), Spirea salicifolia and the Pedicularis sceptrumcarolinum, the Ligularia sibirica and the large pink (Dianthus superbus) and the dwarf birch (Betula humilis). Among the praying birds we can mention the common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus). Text and photo source: http://www.greenharghita.ro

The just 1 ha area of geological reserve is located on the southwestern part of Filiaș, in the Sucoro valley. These mud volcanoes follow the spread of gas-domes. These are cold water mud volcanoes, created in the presence of natural gas domes, more or less in loose soils rich in clay. They were formed in the autumn of 1913. One of the three mud-cones is already covered by vegetation; the other two are still active. Because of the fact that the water here contains salt, we can find here the marsh arrowgrass (Triglochin palustris). Text and photo source: http://www.greenharghita.ro

The swamp is located Westward from Miercurea Ciuc, South of DN13A and North East of Băile Chirui, close to Festő spring. Access is easy, on a paved road. The swamp covers over 2 hectares and has been included on the list of botanical reserves since 1980. The swamp is 120 meters long and 50 meters wide, and is fed by iron-rich mineral water springs. The power of healing of this water was discovered a long time ago, which is why a small bath was dug at the edge of the marsh. The cool and humid microclimate has allowed the survival of special plant communities that exist in similar North European marshes. These species are called relicts, because they have remained from the ice age. The marsh hosts plants such as Saxifraga hirculus, Paludella squarossa specific to sub-arctic areas (this plant grows in three places in the country) and Drosera rotundifolia. Text and photo sources: http: //romanianturism.com/; http://www.greenharghita.ro/

Fântâna Brazilor bog is located at an altitude of about 950 m, in the central-western part of the Praid-Dealu volcanic plateau, in Gurghiu Mountains.  The Fântâna Brazilor bog was declared a Natura 2000 site in 2007. It appears as Luc or Ruc in the literature, but locals generally call it Datka. It is the Westernmost bog with pine trees in the Eastern Carpathians. The bog is surrounded by a spruce forest (Vaccinio-Piceetum abietis). Among the important fauna species are the red forest frog (Rana dalmatina), the red mountain frog (Rana temporaria), salamandra (Salamandra salamandra), and the mountain lizard (Zootoca vivipara). You can visit the peat bog on a visitor trail constructed with the help of the local community. If you visit on your own, please don't forget to pay the entrance fee at the small shop right before arriving at the entrance. You will discover along the path the specific processes and flora of the Siberian marshlands and forests, even insectivore plants and poisonous ones.  If you need more professional guiding, please book your time at the phone number attached here.  Text and photo source: https://www.korpa.ro/

The Snail’s Hill is a geological reserve that spans an area of ​​8 hectares at Corund/Korond. It is considered the largest aragonite occurrence in Romania, receiving a national protected status since 1980. The study of the aragonite in the area date from the 18th to 19th centuries. János Bányai (1938) argues that precipitation processes formed the carbonate deposits from saline, carbonated solutions with low temperature. The water spring from Snail’s Hill is in the form of a natural, active spring. The water appears at the base of the carbonate deposits or through the cracks of the rocks, bubbling smelly gas. The freshly depositing material is aragonite and calcite. Knop Vencel, the teacher of Czech origin invited to take courses at the Zlatna Industrial School of Stone Sculpture and Grinding, began de exploitation of aragonite in 1909. The teacher moved to Corund and established the Aragonite Polishing Factory. The peak of exploitation and processing of aragonite in Corund is placed between 1931-1939. As a result of these mining activities, the diverse forms of natural deposits were harmed, but nowadays a wald through the rocks gives a unique opportunity to discover the beauty of aragonites and banded calcites. You can visit the reserve on your own on a nicely maintained visitor path. If you need more professional guiding, please call the phone number to book your visit. You can buy simple visiting ticket, or you can opt for a combined ticket, which contains the entrance fee for the Salty bath UNICUM, lying on the foothill of the rocks. Entry fee: 5 RON

The Natural Reserve "Popasul Păsărilor de la Sânpaul” covers ​​10 hectares and, as its name implies, is a protected natural area of ​​interest, being included in the special Birds Directive protection area Homorad Hills, a site belonging to the European ecological network Natura 2000. "Popasul Păsărilor” was declared a natural area in the desire to protect and conserve the migratory and nesting birds. At the same time, emphasis is also placed on preserving the local flora and fauna and on preserving the diversity of the wet habitats. "Popasul Păsărilor” Sânpaul's is a wetland area with ponds and puddles, with hydrophobic plant species (reed). It provides food and nesting conditions for migratory bird species; some of which are protected at European level or on the IUCN red list. More than 260 bird species have been observed in the ornithological reserve, and such a high concentration of species in such a small area is a rarity in Europe. More than 70 species of birds nest here (most are protected by law). Among the most important bird species we can mention: the great bittern Botaurus stellaris, the great egret Egreta alba, the purple heron Ardea purpurea, the black stork Ciconia nigra, the ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca, the western marsh harrier ( Circus aeruginosus) or the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). Note that bird photography can be done only from observatories, while sport fishing can be done in the designated areas. Text and photo sources: http://www.cesavezi.ro/; http://informatiahr.ro; https://pensiuniharghitene.ro Video source: https://www.youtube.com/Lucian Ionescu

The Natural Red Stone Reserve covers an area of ​​10 hectares in the administrative territory of Tulgheş commune. The reserve could be accessed from a forest road (Prisecani road intersecting DN 15 at km 223 + 400). This road can be traveled either on foot, on the marked route, or with off-road cars. The road passes a ferrous, carbonated mineral spring. Before planning your trip, you must also take into consideration that camping is prohibited in the area. The Red Stones massif rises above Tulgheş commune, being a prominent limestone cliff with a maximum altitude of 1,215 meters, which offer a wonderful view of the surroundings. The reserve has a southern orientation and is characterized by short, narrow, deep valleys, covered by forests and meadows. The ground conditions allowed for the development of an endemic vegetation, with rare plant species, the reserve having a phytogeographical importance: here we could find Astragalus romeri, whose range is very limited in our country, Delphinium simonkaianum, Hieracium pojoritense, Silene zawadskii or Cerastium transilvanicum. Photo Sources: http://informatiahr.ro/; http://www.greenharghita.ro

The Borsec Botanical Reserve, named in Hungarian "Hármasliget", is one of the natural reserves of national interest, with the essential role of preserving a species of shrub from the Betulacea family, also traditionally known as the dwarf birch or Betula nana, which survived here from the ice age. It is located in Harghita county, on Borsec administrative area, and consists of a swampy meadow which covers a surface of 2 ha. It is the perfect location for tourists passionate about the botanical field. Photo Source: http://www.informatii-romania.ro/

Rák Lake is located 2 km North of Porumbenii Mari at an altitude of 600 m. It formed due to a landslide at the end of the glacial period. The relief consists of Neogene sedimentary rocks, Sarmatian clay marble and sandstone. The circumference of the lake is 800 m, its length 250 m, width 150 m, the maximum depth is 7 m and the surface is 28.000 sq m, 10 ha with the adjacent land. The area is a natural reserve protected by the Law 5/2000. The lake and its surroundings are home to many rare species of plant, including the common bladderwort (Utricularia vulgaris), a carnivorous plant, which feeds on small aquatic insects, crabs and mosquito larvae.