The mineral water source of Pchelin is part of a larger hydro-geologic structure, called the Dolnobanski thermal water basin, where all mineral springs of Kostenets, Dolna Banya and Momin Progod rise. The springs share similar characteristics, but only the Pchelin spring boasts with the highest temperature in Europe – 73C.
Finding out the water’s amazing qualities, ancient Romans who have had one of their main roads passing through these lands, built the first thermal baths here. Becoming increasingly popular with the years, the thermal baths were also used by the Tsar Samuil’s army, while many known and unknown civilians – women, men and children also used it, with women believing that the miraculous qualities of the water could help them to conceive a child.
Pchelin’s mineral water cures diseases associated with the musculoskeletal system, muscle, bone and joint traumas and even serve as a beauty treatment, with its good impact on ageing. Many of the resort visitors come here to find relief and get rid of their rheumatism, neuralgia and allergies. Experts compare the water’s main benefits to those in other springs such as Brombach in Germany, Matsumoto in Japan and Buxton in UK.
Before being captured, the water was drained through several smaller springs situated not further than 3-10m. All rocks in the area exhibit the impact of a thermal change. Total flow of the spring before the capture is estimated to be around 11.17 l/s, later -11.7 l/s with water temperature of 73° C. Current flow amounts to 8.8 l/s.
Physical and chemical composition of the mineral water
As previous said, all springs in the area share similar characteristics, with composition of nitric and helium components, mild to strong radioactivity with total mineralization of 0.92-0.98 g/l and high contents of fluoride (up to 9 mg/l) and silicon (up to 127 mg/l H2SiO3), PH-7,2, NA+K-259,2 mg/l; Ca-27,6 mg/l , HCO-82,4 mg/l ; SO4-483,1 mg/l ; Cl-22 mg/l. The catonic contents define the waters as sodic, their anion profile defines them as sulphatic. Rare and difused micro elements are also present including Li,Ga,Ge,W and others.