Băile Turda resort is located in the northeastern part of Turda, in the area of development of massive salt deposits. The salt massifs from Turda are placed in the westernmost point of the Transylvanian Depression, in the area immediately adjacent to the contact of the mountain block of the Apuseni Mountains with the sedimentary basin.
Geology. The geological structure of the subsoil directly influenced the geomorphological, climatic and vegetation aspect of the area.
Recent research argues the idea that, in the time interval 13.6 – 13.4 Ma, the isolation of the Transylvanian Basin from the Pannonian Basin produced against the background of the last decrease of the planetary ocean level during the Badenian, in a temperate-Mediterranean climate , was the main cause in the precipitation of salt.
The evaporitic formations from the perimeter of Băile Turda Resort are mostly overwhelmingly formed from salt deposits. In isolation, in the southwest of the area where the salt massifs appeared, gypsum springs were identified.
The salt massifs occupy two areas located approximately 1 km away, and the deposits have taken the name of these areas as follows:
– Turda deposit – Băile Sărate;
– Turda deposit – Valea Sărată.
The Turda – Băile Sărate salt deposit overlaps the NE extremity of the Ocna Mureş – Turda anticline, being geographically located over the Băile Sărate Turda micro-depression area located 2 km NE of the city center.
The extension of the salt massif from Băile Turda is clearly mirrored by the contour of the oval-shaped, elongated NV-SE dissolution basin. The surface of the massif, within this delimitation, would be equal to the surface of the sinkhole, namely about 94,000 m2, and the thickness of the salt massif exceeds 1000 m.
The Turda – Valea Sărată salt deposit is located approximately 1.2 km NW of the Turda Băi deposit, in the northern part of Turda municipality, relatively close to the built perimeter of the city, being superimposed on the area occupied by Valea Sărată.
From the point of view of extension, the deposit has an elongated shape of about 4 km, and the width varies in the limits of 200 – 700 m. The thickness of the salt massif varies in the limits of 750 – 1100 m in the axis area of the diapir.
The results of the chemical analyzes show that the salt deposits from Turda are monomineral deposits, being formed by halite (over 98%) to which gypsum, clays and marls are associated in the form of inclusions.
Geomorphology. The micro-depression complex from Băile Sărate is located at the contact between the interfluvial peak of Dealul Turda Nord and the Viişoara terrace (75-80 m). The micro-depression has an approximately circular appearance that overlaps with the configuration of the salt massif, on which it was formed.
The Băile Sărate micro-depression was sculpted by the erosion action of the Arieş, in a first stage of evolution and by the dissolution processes realized by the action of infiltration waters, in a later phase. The processes of compaction, collapse and denudation in the surface of the land, determined the finalization of the formation of the microdepression and reached the current morphological aspect.
The Salt Valley reached the current geomorphological aspect through mechanisms similar to those that determined the formation of the micro-depression at Băile Sărate.
Climate. The geographical location of Băile Turda Resort, in the west of the Transylvanian Depression, at the eastern foot of the Apuseni Mountains and the low altitude (335 m), determines a moderate continental climate, with steppe character, of hills, quite sheltered.
The average annual temperature is 8.4 ÷ 9C. The minimum values are recorded in January, the average temperature being -4.4 ÷ -4C. This temperature is determined by thermal inversions, in the conditions of a depressional relief. In the warmest month (July) the monthly average reaches 19.3 ÷ 20C. In April and October the monthly average is around 9C.
The annual amplitude of temperatures of 23.7C, highlights a continental climate, with quite cold winters and hot summers.
The average annual relative humidity is 70-75%, with a maximum of over 85% in December and January and a minimum of 66-65% in late spring. In spring, the winds blow in the direction of the Apuseni Mountains and produce slight effects of hair.
Due to the existence of downhill winds, with the character of fohn, the annual precipitation in the area is lower than in the other regions of Transylvania. The average annual values are in the range of 550 – 600 mm.