Europe’s hottest geyser springs in Sapareva Banya’s center

published on 7/1/11 1:23 PM

Photo: Veneta Nikolova

The small island of Iceland is without any doubts the European country with most geysers. The hot waters and steam spring deep from the ground to up to 40 – 50 m in the sky and tourists do want to see them. However, it is surprising that the hottest geyser in Europe is situated some 3,700 km to the southeast from Iceland, at the foot of the Rila Mountain, in the center of the small Bulgarian town of Sapareva Banya.

The citizens of Sapareva Banya are proud of their geyser that is considered to be the region’s biggest attraction. That is why a special park was created around the natural phenomenon. The geyser springs from 73 m and it looks like dancing. The water shoots out periodically, surrounded by clouds of hot vapors that sparkle. The geyser in Sapareva Banya is not so high, compared to others around the globe – “only” 18 m. However, it is hot, really hot! When the wind is blowing one should stay aside from the water pillar, since the sprays may hurt. The temperature of the geyser is 103C, or at least 20C higher than the one of its “fellows” in Iceland. The locals have been using this peculiarity of the water for ages… to boil eggs for instance! Deputy Mayor of the Sapareva Banya Municipality Radka Georgieva says:
“Old women continue to do it even nowadays! For instance – they boil potatoes for their animals. They fill in the buckets, put those in the water and the potatoes are boiled in a while! We use the water for bio agriculture too – we spray the wines against different diseases with it. That water is an irreplaceable source of energy for us! We constructed a small geothermal central that heats almost all public buildings – the kindergarten and the school, the hospital, sanatorium and our new bath.”

The new bath offers latest spa and wellness programmes

The boiling water pillar has turned into the tourist logo of the town. Its culinary reincarnation – the Geyser specialty can be tasted in one of the restaurants. It is a long spit with different kinds of meat that symbolizes the outbreak of the geyser, according to the restaurant’s owners. Despite being hot, the water of the geyser is curable too. Yet the ancient Romans discovered that quality of the geyser and they established a settlement there. Its remains were excavated back in 1950s, when spa tourism started to be developed. The water of the geyser is hyperthermal, slightly mineralized and with a smell of sulfide. It is really useful for treatment of diseases, related to the bones, the nerves, the skin and gynecological illnesses. Both hotels of the town and the new bath can offer you excellent spa procedures that are not expensive at all. Tourists also opt for one of the few family hotels that work all over the year.

The town is calm and quiet and local routes would take you to virgin natural areas. One of those goes along the Valyavitsa River, crosses the Panichishte ski resort, situated nearby and takes to the Seven Rila Lakes, which are one of the most beautiful natural attractions of Bulgaria. The small village of Saparevo is situated next to Sapareva Banya with its beautiful church, named after the Holy Mother and built up in 1861 – 1864. It is a small replica of the church of the Rila Monastery. It was constructed on a sacred place, as the Holy Mother appeared before a local and told him to build a church. She prompted him where to dig, in order to find the money necessary. The cauldron that the man discovered has been preserved in the church since then. There are lots of old temples and monasteries in the region that are worth seeing, each of those with its own story or legend. The newly discovered Information center, situated downtown Sapareva Banya will give you further details on the options for accommodation and relaxation in the region.

English version: Zhivko Stanchev

По публикацията работи: Veneta Nikolova

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Europe’s hottest geyser springs in Sapareva Banya’s center

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