Mineral Water

Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. Mineral water may be effervescent or "sparkling" due to contained gases.

Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at their spring sources, often referred to as "taking the waters" or "taking the cure," at places such as spas, baths, or wells. The term spa was used for a place where the water was consumed and bathed in; bath where the water was used primarily for bathing, therapeutics, or recreation; and well where the water was to be consumed.

Today, it is far more common for mineral water to be bottled at the source for distributed consumption. Travelling to the mineral water site for direct access to the water is now uncommon, and in many cases not possible because of exclusive commercial ownership rights. There are more than 3,000 brands of mineral water commercially available worldwide.

Active tourist centres have grown up around many mineral water sites since ancient times, such as Rogaška Slatina (Slovenia), Radenci (Slovenia), Rionero in Vulture (Italy), Piešťany (Slovakia), Hisarya (Bulgaria), Bílina (Czech Republic), Vichy (France), Birštonas (Lithuania), Jermuk (Armenia), Yessentuki (Russia), Kislovodsk (Russia), Spa (Belgium), Sodere (Ethiopia), Krynica-Zdrój (Poland), Sulphur Baths (Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia), Bath (England), Khorog (Tajikistan), or Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic). In Romaniaresorts developed since antiquity in places such as Băile Herculane, Geoagiu or Slănic. Tourist development resulted in spa towns and hydropathic hotels (often shortened to "hydros").

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Wikipedia