Romania
Sand Origin
Lacul Reci and Mountain 7 km outside Covasna City
Random Sand Fact
In Romania, some of the country’s best-loved watermelons grow in sand.
In south-western Romania, near the Danube, there’s an area known as the Oltenian Sahara. The ground consists of sand, and since loggers cut down the forests, the sand has been spreading.
But for watermelons, sand is an advantage. Sand warms up quickly in spring, allowing farmers to harvest the melons there weeks before those in the rest of the country. The sand also makes them sweet and juicy.
The melons are sold under the town’s name and are among Romania’s most prized. A research station there studies how to farm on sand.
