Boiling Volcanoes of Berca (“Fierbatoarele”)
✨ Short description
The “Fierbătoarele de la Berca” is a lesser known area of mud volcanoes, located on the northern outskirts of Berca, Buzău county. Unlike the other touristic areas, these formations are found among forested hills, about 2 km above the village, in an area where active oil installations are operating. The site, composed of two small volcanic plateaus, shows both craters with continuously boiling liquid mud and small cones formed around gas emanations and occasionally oil at the surface (“petrol volcano). Between the two plateaus is a volcanic labyrinth that can be visited, but only by experienced hikers with basic climbing experience.
Although not yet part of an official tourist infrastructure, signposts have recently been erected to direct the curious to this phenomenon, which has remarkable scientific and landscape value.
📜 History of the location
The first scientific observations of the “Berca Mud Volcanes” date back to 1867, when the Frenchman H. Cognand noticed them while prospecting for oil. Since then, although the area has not been developed for tourism, it has remained known by the locals and has recently been included in the promotional materials of the Ținutul Buzăului Geopark.
⭐ Importance and uniqueness of the location
The volcanic plateau of Berca is much smaller than those of Pâclele Mari and Mici, but it impresses with its wildness and diversity of forms in a small area. The area is divided into two plateaus separated by a few hundred meters and by forest fords. Here, among the trees and bushes, you will discover a natural labyrinth of ancient mud cones (now dry, partly overgrown) and active vents, from which slow bubbles of gas burst. The relief is rugged, with level differences of about 80 m between the lower and upper parts of the area (volcanic labyrinth).
Berca’s boiling volcanoes serve as a link between natural phenomena and human exploitation, probably the only place where mud volcanoes are very close to active oil wells. Here eruptions of mud mixed with crude oil are observed, demonstrating the direct link with the hydrocarbon deposit. This unique combination, together with the variation in mud composition (from very liquid to viscous), allows the study of pioneer vegetation and micro-relief, highlighting the scientific importance of the site.
🐉 Local myths and stories
In the “La Fierbători” area, stories have been passed down for generations to keep children away from the dangers of mud. Old people used to say that “the earth is boiling” and that the spirit of the sludge could drag someone into its depths. The legend of the buried dragon, which is said to have been wounded by Arbănaș, is also found here, and a local place name, ‘Dragon’s Hill’, bears witness to this belief. Also, some older accounts called the area the ‘Devil’s Bumps’, suggesting that the boiling mud emanated from hell.
🗺️ What to visit
Visitors can explore the volcanic plateaus and the volcanic labyrinth and observe, in an off-road setting, the boiling mud pools, concentric circles formed by bubbles and, in some areas, small mini-volcanoes with oil bubbling to the surface. There are also bizarre shapes carved by water and erosion, such as deep ditches and caves formed in the clay banks, all in a spectacular contrast between nature and the oil industry.
📍 How to get there
Access by car from the center of Berca commune. There are two plateaus to visit. Please note that between the two plateaus there is a kind of volcanic labyrinth, to reach the second plateau a hiking/climbing effort is necessary (not recommended with children or after rainy period). In case you want to visit both plateaus and not climb it is recommended to go back to the parking ground and take the car for the second plateau.
From Berca, from the Casa de Cultura, follow the sign to the left which leads to “La Fierbători”.
Varianta 1 (lower plateau) : follow the street, after the stadium turn left after the Filantropia building, follow the small road until you reach a small plateau. Park the car here (unofficial parking). There is a small path to hike upon the hill (around 300m up to the Volcanoes).
Varianta 2 (upper plateau): Follow the petrol road after the stadium. Initially the road is paved, then turns into a dirt and gravel road for about 2km until you arrive to a small parking lot (see sign). On the left side there is a road to climb up 300 m (recommended to walk if you do not have an offroad car).
There is no public transportation, so personal car or bicycle are the access options.
🔎Things to keep in mind
- Road and weather: Unpaved roads can become difficult after rain showers
- Equipment: Wear boots or waterproof footwear, long-sleeved clothing and pants, and take water and snacks as the area is unpaved.
- Precautions: Be very wary of the edges of the pools, which can give way, and the oil installations in the area.
- Visiting in a group: It is advisable to go in a group or at least two people, as the GSM signal can be weak and the area is isolated.
⏳ Visiting hours and Fees
There is no fixed program or ticket office at the Berca Boilings, and access is free of charge at your own risk. It is recommended to visit during daylight hours (ideally between sunrise and sunset) for optimal visibility and safety. In winter, conditions can become difficult due to snow and ice, so plan your visit as a mountain hike and check local road conditions.