Lake Moynaki is located in the western district of Yevpatoria. In the past, Lake Moynaki was the main reservoir where therapeutic mud was extracted for balneological procedures in the sanatoriums of Yevpatoria. Subsequently, the cultivation and extraction of mud was transferred to the Sasyk-Sivash Lake, as well as to the Saki Lake. There are paths laid near the Moynaki lake, where tourists can walk.
Several thousand years ago, Lake Moynaki was a sea bay, but then a sand spit appeared and separated Moynaki from the sea. A layer of therapeutic mud, about half a meter thick, formed at the bottom of the lake. The mud of Lake Moynaki has a black and blue color. The therapeutic properties of mud were confirmed by doctors back in the 19th century, after that Yevpatoria became one of the most famous balneological resorts of the Russian Empire.
The lake area is small, only 1.7 square kilometers. The depth of Lake Moynaki ranges from 20 centimeters to 1 meter. Swimming in the lake is impossible due to the high content of mineral salts. The water in such lakes is called brine, since in its composition it is a highly mineralized saline solution. In summer, when the process of evaporation of water and the reproduction of bacteria begins, the water in the lakes of Yevpatoria coloring a beautiful pink or red hue.
Since the cultivation and extraction of therapeutic mud in recent years has been transferred from Lake Moynaki to Lake Saki, as well as to Lake Sasyk-Sivash, the color of its water is not so bright red. Mud and brine from the lakes of Yevpatoria are used to treat joints and the entire musculoskeletal system, gynecological diseases. Skin and respiratory diseases are also treated here. Yevpatoria is a rehabilitation center for children with cerebral palsy.
Now mud procedures in sanatoriums are done under the supervision of doctors, but before people just came to the lake, covered this mud sore spots on the body and then washed off in the lake. Some people continue to do this until now, however, it may not always be useful. It is important to remember that mud should be covered only on problem areas of the body. You should not cover the whole body with mud.
The procedure time for adults should not exceed 20 minutes, and for children – 10 minutes. It is dangerous to stay in the salty solution (brine) of the lake for more than 15 minutes. In sanatoriums, brine mineralization is artificially decreased so that it does not cause skin burns. Also in sanatoriums, procedures are made at optimal room temperature. Covering the body with mud, and then bathing in a highly mineralized brine solution under the hot sun in the summer months is dangerous.
However, if people take all precautions, there are many stories that balneological procedures on Lake Moynaki helped to cure diseases. The most famous story is connected with the King of Afghanistan, Mohammed Zahir Shah, who came to Moinaky Lake in 1957 and served namaz there. His mother could not get pregnant for a long time, despite treatment by different doctors. Tsar Nicholas II advised her to visit Yevpatoria, and in 1913 she had a course of treatment at Lake Moynaki. After that she gave birth to a son. In memory of this, the king then came here to serve a thanksgiving service.
