Mud volcanoes at Pâclele Mici

At Pâclele Mici, in Berca commune, Buzău County, the mud volcano field includes cones of different heights and narrow craters. The mud is brought to the surface by natural gas passing through layers of water and clay. Fresh mudflows spread over the older deposits and gradually change the shape of the cones.

Gullies, cracks and pale crusts can be seen on the slopes. The salty soil harbors plants adapted to these conditions, among them the plant known locally as gărdurărița. The site is included in the Ținutul Buzăului UNESCO Geopark. A themed trail explains the geological phenomenon, and a path through the meadows connects the area to Pâclele Mari.

Photo: Malte Jörn Krafft · Source of the photo · CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized to 650 × 400 px, without distortion.