# Uioara de Sus

- **Country:** Romania
- **Coordinates:** 46.390000, 23.860000
- **Location Text:** Teleki Castle

Uioara de Sus is not a castle but a village administered by the town of Ocna Mureș in Alba County, Romania. Located in the north-eastern corner of the county near the Mureș River, this settlement is historically known by its Hungarian name, Felsőmarosújvár. The area is defined by its proximity to significant salt deposits that were mined for centuries until a catastrophic collapse occurred in 1978. This event caused the mine ceilings to fall due to water infiltration, fundamentally altering the local landscape and ending traditional extraction methods in the immediate vicinity.

The historical significance of the region centers on its salt mining heritage, which once drove the local economy and led to the development of associated chemical industries. Following the 1978 collapse, the unstable ground transformed into a series of large, deep, and highly saline ponds. While the original industrial structures have largely been demolished or ceased activity, the site represents a unique geological evolution from an active mine to a natural phenomenon. These salty waters are now utilized by a renewed destination spa in the broader town, offering medical treatments and sports facilities, signaling a shift from heavy industry to wellness tourism.

Currently, the area where the mines once stood is projected to become a substantial natural park, preserving the unique saline ponds created by the collapse. The village itself functions as part of the wider Ocna Mureș community, which maintains a diverse demographic composition including Romanians, Hungarians, and Romani people. Rather than standing as an architectural monument or fortress, Uioara de Sus serves as a testament to the region's industrial past and its ongoing environmental transformation, with future plans focused on ecological preservation and recreational use of the distinctive saline landscape.

![Photo of Uioara de Sus](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Roman_Catholic_church_in_Maros%C3%BAjv%C3%A1r.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocna_Mureș (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)