Rich in active gases or metals — a strong mineral character.
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Standard buoyancy
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Soft water — natural, classic buoyancy.
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Chudesny Naftalan Sanatorium is one of the establishments within Naftalan, Azerbaijan's extraordinary resort city where the signature feature is crude naphthenic oil rather than conventional thermal water. The petroleum-based baths at Naftalan have been part of a long thermal tradition since Soviet times, attracting visitors from across the former USSR. Chudesny (meaning 'wondrous' in Russian) reflects the sanatorium's legacy as a famous destination, and its unusual petroleum immersion baths remain one of the world's most singular balneological experiences.
Insider tip — Naftalan is globally unique as the only spa resort where crude naphthalan petroleum — a non-flammable mineral oil — is used for bathing rather than thermal water. The Chudesny Sanatorium is one of several Soviet-era facilities continuing this singular Azerbaijani tradition. The brownish oil at 37°C coats the skin and must be washed off thoroughly afterward. The town, set in the Kura River lowlands, still carries the atmosphere of a Soviet health resort with wide sanatorium avenues and convalescent gardens.
