The ´Mineral Water Trail´ Greenway is one of the first initiatives of this kind in Romania. This trail was created in Harghita County in central Romania. The Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation and the Csík County Environmental and Nature Protection Association took the first steps in 2000 in order to make this initiative a reality. The existence of hundreds of effervescent mineral water baths and thousands of carbonic aerated mineral water springs with their healing effects was the perfect base for the creation of such kind of trail. The culture of mineral water bathing has been a tradition for hundreds of years in the micro-region of Csomad-Balvanyos. This opportunity to celebrate a treasured tradition was embraced with great enthusiasm by the local communities. Between 2000 - 2003 several successful projects, funded by REPF, such as the suspended wood-path of the ´Mohos´ Peat-bog, the reconstruction of ´Nadasfurdo´ Mineral Water Bath´s and the construction of the Mineral Water Museum in Tusnad village were implemented by this local association and are a large part of the success of the Mineral Water Trail. At the same time, thanks to other funds and the help of local administrations and volunteer participation this association successfully reconstructed 3 other mineral water baths.
These projects represent the first 40 km of the Mineral Water Trail that was inaugurated in the spring of 2004. The bicycle trail was developed on an existing county lane in order to avoid busy roads and included most of the historical, cultural and natural sites, mineral water springs and baths and protected areas of the region. The second development phase will begin in 2005.
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