Serbia's largest salt lake dries up amid historic heatwave

Lake Rusanda has disappeared. The water and mud have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. First, the lake turned into a wetland, then even the mud disappeared, said 72-year-old Sava, who lives near Rusanda.

Due to unusually high temperatures, the largest salt lake in Serbia, whose water and mud have been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, has completely dried up. Reuters reported on Wednesday at 3:00 PM ET that this is the first such event in history.

Serbian meteorologist Vladimir Dziurdjević from Belgrade explains that the country is facing an exceptional weather phenomenon—a heatwave characterized by its length and intensity. For over a week, authorities have been advising residents to exercise extreme caution and stay indoors if possible. In some countries, red weather alerts have been issued, and North Macedonia is battling numerous forest fires.

The heatwaves have caused Lake Rusanda in northern Serbia to dry up. This largest salt lake in the country had a salinity reaching 60 percent, which exceeded sea salinity. Since the 19th century, the mud from Rusanda has been used in medicine, primarily for treating muscle inflammation, rheumatism, and injuries mainly caused by car accidents.

Sava, a 72-year-old resident of the nearby area, talks about how the lake first turned into a wetland, and ultimately, even the mud disappeared. Photos shared online show the dried lake bed and occasional puddles—remnants of the salty water.