Today traveling to Romania is as easy as traveling to any other European destination. Romania offers rich and special tourist attractions. Thanks to its geographical diversity, most of the tourist attractions are quite unique in Europe, such as Lake Ursu in Sovata (the worlds' largest heliothermic lake- very good for swimming). The salt water is warmed by heliothermic phenomena, which provides different temperatures at different depths (19-20C on the surface, 30-40C at 1 m depth, 40-60 C at 1,5-2 m depths). The salt content is 40-250 g/l. It's waters and sapropelic mud are famous for their healing properties. Reputedly, they have been successful in the treatment of rheumatic and gynecological diseases (such as sterility).Lake Ursu is the only naturally created lake whose exact date and time of inception are known for sure. The lake was formed at 11 am on May 27, 1875, the effect of an abundance of rain on a natural sinkhole.The spa has a sedative climate with healthy air, cool summers and warm winters. Despite being situated on a salt massif (rock), Sovata is rich in vegetation (usually the distinctiveness of such a salty soil is the total absence of flora)- its surroundings are covered in rich flora. Around the lake there are many kinds of vegetation, including deciduous and pine woods. The forests have rich hunting fauna, as well as special trails which beckon the visitor to take a walk in the woods. All these make Sovata resemble a great natural park. The Sovata spa has already been designated a natural reservation. Besides Lake Ursu, there are several other lakes in the area which deserve mentioning: Alunis, Verde, Negru, Rosu and Mierlei Lake, all having chlorinated waters with a high sodium concentration. These also display the heliothermic phenomena.Another tourist destination is Praid spa. Only 6 km from Sovata, here you will find a famous salt mine. Today, besides the exploitation of salt, the salt mine is used for medical treatments. The underground halls (level 50) can be found at a depth of 120 m from the surface. The treatment consists of the inhalation of air from the mine for 4 hours daily, this proving very beneficial for diseases of the respiratory apparatus (asthma, bronchitis, and allergies). The salt mine offers the following attractions: illuminated underground halls; Internet access; playgrounds for children; buffet and shops; museum and art exhibition; billiard tables, table tennis, and other sports activities such as badminton; medical gymnastics; and an ecumenical chapel- all specially created for your enjoyment and relaxation. Best of all, it's open year round! Even if Romania is not your main travel destination, a two or three day add-on trip is well worth it. Today Romania's tourist accommodations and facilities have reached international standards. Even though some remote areas of Romania only offer mid-scale or budget accommodations, those who visit the country will always encounter friendly people, wonderful sights and affordable prices!