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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
BALNEOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THERMOMINERAL, THERMAL AND MINERAL
WATERS AT THE REGION OF ILIDZA- SARAJEVO AND ITS IMPACT ON TOURISM
aLEJLA ŽUNIĆ, bAIDA BIDŽAN-GEKIĆ, cHARIS GEKIĆ
Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of
Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
email: apmflejlazunic@yahoo.com, baidabidzan@gmail.com,
chgekic@gmail.com
Abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate the
thermomineral, thermal and mineral water sources in the region Ilidza- Sarajevo,
Bosnia and Herzegovina that are used in balneology. The objectives of this study were
to: 1) anaylize specific geographic and tourism features of Sarajevo and the region of
Ilidza; 2) present the genesis of thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters in the
region; 3) analyse the content- physical and chemical characteristics of the observed
waters; 4) classify medicinal waters according 2 basic balenological indicators: TDS
and temperature using the contemporary models; 5) identify the hotels with health sp a
centres and balneology indications. The study found that Ilidza region is wealth with
thermal, thermomineral and mineral waters, while the most valuable is Terma, the
highly thermal spring; it’s also the hottest spot of thermal water at the national level.
Thermal waters have been exploited since Roman period in Bosnia and they are
nowadays used within the luxury and superior hotels with spa programs for the health
tourism. This study provided balneological and tourism value of thermal,
thermomineral and mineral waters and their impact o n the destination develop ment.
Keywords: thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters, the content, balneological
indicat ors, health tour ism, destinatio n development.
1 Introduction
Thermal, thermineral and mineral waters of Sarajevo have been
used in balneology since Roman period in Bosnia and
Herzegovina (I cent.). The waters were found at the
hydrogeothermal region of Ilidza, which is located at southwest
of Sarajevo destination. Sarajevo as a tourism destination can be
presented as the area of 5 urban municipalities (Stari Grad,
Centar, Novo Sarajevo, Novi Grad, Ilidza) with the majority of
tourist infrastructure. The region of Ilidza is famous because of
the thermomineral water with the highest temperature in the
country. Therefore, Ilidza consist many luxurious and superior
hotels with spa program and medical spa centre specialized in
balneology. Vukajlija (1980) defines balneology (lat. balneum)
as the science of mineral waters that are used for the health
program- drink and bath. Balneology is the study of medicinal
springs and the therapeutic effects of bathing in them (Oxford).
Cvorovic (1976) stated that balenological tourism is one of the
oldest in the world. Bathing at thermal and thermomineral water,
drinking it or inhaling with its vapour on their sources is the
therapeutic method old same as the human civilization. Using
the thermomineral water for bathing existing since Roman
period in Bosnia and Herzegovina and it resulted in building the
first settlement known as “Aqua S” at the region of Ilidza
(turkish “iladz”: spa, cure), Sarajevo (II cent.). The first medical
spa centre (Terma) was created during Ottoman period in Bosnia
(XVII cent.; the first written sources of spa centre Ilidza come
from 1626 year) and it was renovated during Austro-Hungarian
period (XIX-XX cent.) when the balneological tourism was
blooming, while it was obstructed during the war (1992-1995),
but since 2004 it works with full capacity. Therefore, it was
necessary to apply the contemporary models of classification
medicinal waters and to present physical and chemical
characteristics of specific/ observed waters at Ilidza, as well as
its balneological indications. This region is mostly recognized by
sulphurous thermomineral waters which smell and vapour give a
specific note to the environment. The positive trend in tourism of
Sarajevo over the last decade was followed with increased
interest in spa hotels, while the region of Ilidza was preceded in
the number of arrivals and overnight.
2 Methodology
There was used a several classificational models to identify and
categorize thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters as
medicinal waters used in balneology or the health tourism.
Models were mostly based on the physical and chemical
indicators: total mineralisation, dominant anion or cation, and
the temperature (ºC), as well as the contemporary standards for
balneological use and treatment. The criteria of mineralisation
and temperature enabled divison of underground waters at 4
sections: thermomineral, mineral, thermal and fresh waters
(Skopljak, 2006), while the first 3 was the subject of matter.
There were applied 3 different criteria for classification of
medicinal waters based on their chemical characteristics: a)
chemical- physiological (Komatina, 2004), b) total
mineralisation (TDS), and c) mineral content (Jonker, 2016) to
identify the type of sources at the observed region. For the
classification medicinal waters based on their physical
characteristics- temperature, 5 criteria of different authors were
introduced and applied (Vintras, 1883; Djerkovic, 1971;
Komatina, 2004; Spahic, 2005; Karagüle, 2014) to identify and
valorisate balneological value of thermomineral waters. The
terrain (Ilidza) was visited to observe the existence of tourism
capacities and to identify hotels with the spa program, while the
informal interview was conducted between the tourists who had
their outdoor activites but they generaly stayed at some of the
Ilidza hotels, while there were also helpful the previous related
findings of corresponding author (Zunic, 2018). The tourism
development of Ilidza was measured thrue the statistical
indicators (growth of the number of arrivals and overnight
stays), while the analysis of the hotel’s program and the Ilidza
municipality tourism offer resulted in presenting the correlation
of tourist interest and health spa centres.
Table 1: Water classification according to Skopljak (2006)
Mineralisation
(TDS mg/l)
Temperature
(ºC)
Thermomineral
water
>1000 >12
Thermal water <1000 >12
Mineral water
>1000
<12
Fresh water
<1000
<12
(Source: Skopljak, 2006)
Table 2: Chemical classification of medicine waters based on
their physiological properties according to Komatina (2004)
Type
Mineralisation
(g/l)
Use
Waters elevated
mineralisation
1-5 g/l
Consumed
drinking
Waters medium
mineralisation 5-15 g/l
Suitable for
balneology Take in
as medicine
Waters high
mineralisation
15-35 g/l
Exclusively for
bathing purpose
Brines 35-150 g/l
Exclusively for
bathing purpose
(Source: Komatina, 2004)
Table 3: Classification of medicinal waters total mineralization
according to Jonker (2016)
Type of water
Total dissolved solids
(TDS)
Akrato/ Simple thermal water
<1000 mg/l
Oligo-metalliques
700-1000 mg/l
Highly mineral waters
>1000 mg/l
(Source: Jonker, 2016)
Table 4: Classification of medicinal waters mineral content
according to Jonker (2016)
Type
Calculated as
Criteria
Alkaline (Na-K-
bicarbonated)
waters Concentration g/l
≥ 1 g/l total
dissolved solid,
dominant anion:
HCO3
Alkaline (Ca-Mg-
bicarbonated)
waters Concentration g/l
≥ 1 g/l total
dissolved solid,
dominant
cations: Ca, Mg
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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
dominant anion:
HCO3
Carbonate waters Concentration
CO2 g/l
Containing total
carbonate in
excess of 300
mg/l
(0.3 g/l)
Chloridated,
Saline Concentration
NaCl g/l
Water
containing more
than 14 g/l
sodium
chloride
(hypertonic)
≥ 1 g/l total
dissolved solid,
dominant cation:
Na
dominant anion:
Cl
Sulphurous
waters Concentration
SO4 g/l
≥ 1 g/l total
dissolved solid,
dominant anion:
SO4
Waters containing
Mg Contribution %
Mg- an
equivalent
contribution of
at least 20%
Waters containing
I
Concentration
mg/l
> 1 mg/l iodine
Waters containing
F
Concentration
mg/l > 2 mg/l fluoride
Waters containing
Br
Concentration
mg/l
≥ 5 mg/l
bromine
Waters containing
Fe
Concentration
mg/l
more than 10
mg/l iron
Waters containing
Si Concentration
mg/l 70 mg/l H2SiO3
Waters containing
As
Concentration
mg/l
0.7 mg/l As
(Source: Jonker, 2016)
Table 5: Classification of temperature thermal and
thermomineral waters (ºC) according to 5 different authors from
the earlier to the contemporary models
1.
Vintras,
1883
2.
Djerkovic,
1971
3.
Komatina,
2004 4. Spahić, 2005
5.
Karagülle,
2014
a) Cold
<18
b) War m
18-28
c) Hot
28-36
d) Ver y
hot
>36
a) Cold <20
b) War m
20-35
c) Hot 35-42
d) Ver y hot
>42
a) Cold <20
b) War m
20-37
c) Ther mal
37-42
d) Hig hly
ther mal
42-100
e) Super
heated
>100
a) Hypo therma l
20-34
b) Ho meother mal
34-38
c) Hyperthermal
>38
a) Cold <25
b) Tepid 25-
34
c) Warm 3 4-
42
d) Hot >42
(Jonker, 2016; Zunic, 2015. Prepared by Authors)
3 Results and Discussion
3.1 Geographical and Tourism features of Sarajevo and its
region of Ilidza
Thermal, thermomineral and mineral waters are important
resources of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo is located on the southwest of “Sarajevo-Zenica”
tectonic basin. This basin is presented with 2 geomorphologic
environments: a) internal flat with the Sarajevo field, and b) the
mountain surroundings (Trebević, Jahorina, Igman, Bjelašnica,
Treskavica and Romanija- Olympic mountains of Sarajevo
which belong to Dinaric Alps Mountain range in Europe).
Skopljak (2006) stated that thermomineral waters are found only
in the hydrogeologic unit of Sarajevo field which belongs to the
Ilidza region near Sarajevo. This terrain is located on the
southwest of Sarajevo, between the rivers Zeljeznica and
Presjenica (SE) and Lepenica (NW). The border on the
southwest is presented with mountain Igman up to contact with
Bjelasnica, and it contains area from the source of Presjenica,
over the Ravna vala up to the mouth of Krupa- Zujevina, which
makes the border on the northwest. The border on the northeast
is the river Zeljeznica up to Vojkovici, Stup and Rajlovac. It
contains also the area of Butila, Rakovica and Buhotina when it
joins the boundary on the northwest. Total area is 250 square km
(Skopljak, 2006). Regional tectonic predisposition participated
in the genesis of Sarajevo field, while the Busovaca is the fault
of central importance. Mineral, thermal and thermomineral
waters of Sarajevo are found along the tectonic faults with 2
directions: Sarajevo-Kiseljak-Busovaca and Knezina-Olovo-
Orlje. Geological terrain is mostly composed of sediments and
volcanic formations, as well as the mesozoic flysch sediments,
and the lake sediments and various kenozoic accumulations.
Terrain elevation is presented with the hight range from 500 m at
Sarajevo field up to 1647 m on the ridge of mt. Igman. The
wider area is fluvially shaped with majority of denudational
landforms and the possible presence of karst phenomens (e.g.
caves, springs), while the central area of the field is typical by
fluvial relief (stream channels, floodplains, alluvial fans, or even
the specific forms such as “bigar”- tuff from the thermal waters).
Sarajevo has a humid climate with warm summer (Kӧpen: Cfb),
and an average temperature is 9.5ºC and 932 mm precipitation
per year. Sarajevo field is located in the upper Bosnia river basin
with its tributaries Zujevina, Zeljeznica, Dobrinja and Miljacka,
and it belongs to the Black sea at the higer level of drainage.
Djug et al. (2008) stated that majority of water territory belongs
to the river Bosnia system, and it has combined a moderate
pluvial-nival river regime. The mountain area belongs to the
ecosystem of Fagetum and Abies, while the field area contains
hygrophile ecosystems of Alnus, Populus and Salix, as well as
the mezophille forests of Quercus and Carpinus (Djug et al.,
2008). Sarajevo, as the capital, has a favourable geographic,
traffic and tourism position, and it’s well connected with Europe
and the rest of the World, while it’s also the part of a very
important European tourism corridor which connects the
continental Middle Europe and the Mediterranean Europe.
Sarajevo has a positive tourist growth over the last decade, but
it’s stil counted as a “city break destination” because of the
shorter overnight stay (less then 3 days). The region of Ilidza is
extremely important as the geotraffical nucleus and terminal,
while it’s also of a great tourism importance because of the
rational exploitation of thermomineral waters for the tourist and
resident’s purpose, and its general natural and cultural
attractiviness. There were built a popular hotels and recreative-
rehab centres, some of them kept authentical style from Austria-
Hungarian period in Bosnia and Herzegovina (e.g. lux hotels
Austria and Bosnia). Ilidza is one of 5 urban municipalities of
Sarajevo, and it has progressive tourism development over the
last decade with the preceding participation in the overall
tourism growth of Sarajevo.
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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
Figure 1: Physical map of Sarajevo Canton
(Source: L. Zunic- ArcGIS)
Figure 2: Location of Sarajevo and its connections with Europe
via corridor V
(Source: Strategies of the Pan-European Transport Corridors and
Transport Areas, 2002)
Table 6: Tourist arrivals in the Sarajevo Canton over the last
decade 2007-2017
Municipality:
2007 year
2012 year
2017 year
Stari Grad
24682
55193
123211
Centar/ Centre
41531
28800
99361
Novo Sarajevo 21651 40646 40044
Novi Grad
8158
16945
27072
Ilidza
57075
114947
173105
Vogosca
8225
6878
13503
Hadzici
1575
561
Ilijas
Trnovo
5871
3516
5637
Total
167193
318032
482494
(Source: Institute for planning development of Sarajevo Canton.
Prepared by Authors)
Table 7: Tourist overnight stays in Sarajevo Canton from 2007
to 2017 year
Municipality:
2007 year
2012 year
2017 year
Stari Grad
51143
116826
276346
Centar/ Centre
81940
55917
206368
Novo Sarajevo
38587
69052
81952
Novi Grad
16090
28443
40384
Ilidza
105950
206383
320148
Vogosca
21902
20627
26750
Hadzici
3619
1834
Ilijas
Trnovo
16110
10890
13590
Total
331772
511757
967372
(Source: Institute for planning development of Sarajevo Canton.
Prepared by Authors)
According to the governmental statistics (table 6 and 7),
Sarajevo destination has a positive tourism growth over the last
decade (2007-2017). There was evident a threefold increase in
the number of arrivals from 167193 in 2012 year to 482494 in
2017 year, and in the number of overnight stays as well- from
331772 (2012) to 967372 (2017). Municipality Ilidza, which is
also the main hydrogeothermal region at Sarajevo and Bosnia
and Herzegovina, has the dominant participation in a tourism
growth. Ilidza had also an increase in tourist arrivals and
overnight stays by three times, while its share in both categories
reaches 33.1-35.9%. International make 89.3% of total overnight
stays in the destination. According to the Tourism Association of
Sarajevo Canton, Sarajevo had more then 1 million overnight
stays in the last year (2018: 1.021.452), while the majority of
tourists came from Turkey, Croatia, China, U.A.E., Slovenia,
Saudi Arabia, Germany, Serbia, USA and Italy. Ilidza, right after
the Stari Grad (21.8%), has the highest growth rate in
accommodation (number of beds) 19.9% (Tourism of the
Sarajevo Canton, Institute for planning development, 2018). The
study of Sarajevo tourism (Zunic, 2018) showed that Ilidza
experiences a tourist blooming particulary because of the
superior and luxurious hotels with spa programs based on
thermal waters, but for the other tourism attractiveness of that
area as well. Ilidza is a specific region of Sarajevo wealth in
ancient culture (e.g. Butmir neolit culture from the 5-th
millenum BC), while the first organized settlement “Aqua S.”
origins from Roman period (II cent.) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
was found in this region. Since then the thermal water have been
used for balneology purpose and it is nowdays one of the main
reason that many arrivals choose this location for their stay.
During informal interview, majority of tourists in Ilidza
expressed they preferred hotels there because of the spa and
medical program.
Table 8: Hotels with the Spa & Wellness Program at the region
of Ilidza-Sarajevo
Hotel, Spa Centre
Category
(Stars)
Facilities,
Balneological offer
1. Hotel Spa
Terme 4
Hydrotherapy and
physical therapy
(electro therapy,
magnetic therapy,
volcanic mud therapy,
laser therapy, kinesis
therapy, lymph
drainage), wellness,
two indoor swimming
pools, fitness, saunas,
massage salons, beauty
salons, thermal baths,
solarium, parking
2. Hotel Austria
and Bosnia 5
Wellness and Spa
center; two indoor
swimming pool,
modern fitness center,
sauna, solarium, hot
tubs with natural
thermal sulphurous
water; medical
treatments
3. Hotel Crystal
Deluxe 4
Wellness & Spa in the
hotel Terme
4. Hotel
Herzegovina 4 Wellness & Spa in the
hotel Terme
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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
5. Hotel Oaza
Resort
4
Wellness & Spa in the
hotel Terme
6. Hotel
„Hollywood“ 4
Jetted tub, Saunas
(Finnish, infrared,
infragreen and steam),
Turkish hammam,
Relax room, Salt room,
Water massage,
Therapeutic massage
7. Hotel „Hills“-
Thermal Riviera 4
Outdoor and indoor
pools, fast flowing
river, massage seats, jet
massage, whirlpools,
water slides,
trampoline; the wave
pool
8. Hotel Malak
Regency 5
Spa, fitness and warm
swimming pool,
Turkish hammam,
sauna, spacious pool
and massages
(Source: Strategy of the Ilidza development in 2014-2020;
Website of the hotels; Author’s terrain observations & data
collected at the area of Ilidza)
The table above shows the identified hotels at the region of
Ilidza with the spa and wellness program which is based on the
thermal waters. All the hotels are private property. The first 5
hotels belong to the same group- Hotels Ilidza (Austria &
Bosnia, Spa Terme, Crystal Deluxe, Hercegovina, Oaza Resort-
Villas & Apartments), while the other hotels group is presented
with 2 hotels, Hollywood and Hills (the hotels groups are under
the same management). Some of the hotels were created during
Austria-Hungarian period in Bosnia and they are renovated in
2018. For example, hotel Austria & Bosnia- Hotels Ilidza is
designed by Chech architect F. Blazek in 1892 and it was also a
residental hotel of Austro-Hungarian archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Since May 2018 Austria & Bosna Hotel represents an ultimate 5-
star luxury hotel with the spa offer in Sarajevo. However, the
oldest balneological- medical centre is the part of the hotel
Terme, and it’s known since Ottoman period as the “Banja
Terme Ilidza” (Spa Terme Ilidza). Results from the earlier study
(Zunic, 2018) showed that hotels of Ilidza has a positive tourism
trend followed by the annual growth rate in overnight stays 10-
15%. The longest extended-stay guests at the hotels are arrivals
from Arab countries (U.A.E., Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman,
etc.), some of them stay up to the expiring date of their tourist
visa (3 monthes), while the most often guests at this hotels are
arrivals from Turkey and then from the region of SE Europe
mostly the neighbouring countries (e.g. Croatia, Slovenia)
because the competitive price of Bosnian spa centres (qualitative
product for the affordable price between the cheapest in the
region of SE Europe). Marketing workers from the hotels of
Ilidza confirmed that people fly thousand and thousand
kilometres to reach the sulphurous water of Sarajevo, while the
tour guides in charge for the group of Arab tourists stated they
prefer a health spa program and the green surroundings of Ilidza.
Figure 3: Spatial distribution of spa hotels at Ilidza- Sarajevo
(Source: Google Earth Maps, Ortophoto ILIDZA, Satellite
Imagery)
3.2 Genesis of thermal, thermomineral and mineral waters at
the region of Ilidza, Sarajevo
Genesis of thermomineral waters in the Sarajevo field is related
with areas composed of Triassic carbonate close to the
topographic surface or they are covered with thin quaternary
deposits. Thermomineral waters at Ilidza are found in
carbonates, mostly dolomitic carbonate, dolomite and carbonate
from Midd and Upper Triass. It is assumed they were caused by
lateral facies changes, or this structure could be the result of
complex tectonic followed by differential motion in the zone of
Busovaca fault. Triassic carbonates are covered with the gravel
layer which has an average thickness of 3-15 m. The northeast
area of Sarajevo field, between rivers Bosna and Zujevina, is
composed of alluvium 2-10 m, while the area of Blazuj,
Mostarsko raskrsce and Rakovica has an Upper Creda flysch
layer. The area of Butmir, on the profile of Ilidza-Plandiste up to
the mouth of river Miljacka into the Bosna and the Rajlovac
surroundings, is composed of lake sediments from the Upper
Miocene with visible discordant position. The results of isotopic
research thermomineral waters in the area of Blazuj, by the
German firm “Hydroisotop GmbH”, indicated water occurs from
the carbonate aquifer with direct or indirect influx of volcanic
CO2, the groundwater system was formed in the Pleistocene
10.000 years ago, there was also found young waters at the age
of 40, sulphate of mineral waters comes from gypsum-bearing
and anhydrite bedrock, while the low radon content indicates
that ground waters don’t have a direct contact with deposits
enriched with uranium (Heidinger, 2000). The fault of Busovaca
and its transversal and diagonal geofractures had the key role for
the genesis of thermomineral waters. Descending terrain along
this fault resulted in forming the horst structure with Sarajevo-
Zenica basin. The fault on the southwest separates Igman from
Bjelasnica, while the fault of Spring of Bosna- Krupac, on the
northeast of Igman, caused the Sarajevo field elevation downfall
of 1.000 m. Thermomineral water temperatures are the result of
deep infiltration atmospheric waters and geothermal gradient,
static pressure in the lenses of permotrias deposits caused by
differential motions in the zone of Busovaca fault and the
following dynamic factors and ascendation of thermomineral
waters thrue the porous rocks on the long distance under the
extremely high pressure. Suphurous spring (Terma) at Ilidza was
discovered in May 1893, while in August 1894 Professor E.
Ludwig from Vienna researched the balenological parameters of
water (chemical content, temperature 56.8-57.5ºC and stability
of water mineralisation). He stated that the water is good not
only for bath but for drink as well, because it contains some
hydrogen sulphide and a lot of glauber’s salt, chloride,
bicarbonate calcium and magnesium. Thermomineral waters
were also found in recent wells at Ilidza (PP-1, B-3a, IB-1, IB-2,
B-10a, IB-10) and Blazuj (P-1, P-2, B-1, F-1, Mratnjevaca, Aqua
Vitae- Plandiste). Those waters are similar physicochemical
characteristics as Terma and Slana Bara.
Thermal waters were found at wells in Triassic carbonates of
Sarajevo field and Hadzici-Rakovica, and their genesis is similar
with thermomineral’s.
Mineral water sources were found in the area between Vlahovici,
Han Ploce and Buhotina, on the northwest slopes of Igman. This
terrain is dissected by Lepenica which flows from the southwest
to the northeast in its upper area, then the river meanderings and
change her direction to the northwest. Furthermore, Busovaca
fault follows the course of this river which gets a several streams
(tributaries) flowing from the area of Buhotina, Boljkovici and
Azapovici. A several sources of mineral water with the lower
yield occur in the terrain composed of layers from lower triass
covered with alluvium (Boljkovici, Azapovici) or pliocene
deposits (Buhotina) (Skopljak, 2006).
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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
Figure 4: Litostratigraphic distribution of aquifers along deepth,
hydrogeothermal regions and perspective geothermal zones of
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Source: Miosic, Samardzic and Hrvatovic, 2015)
3.3 Identification and classification of thermomineral,
thermal and mineral waters at the region of Ilidza- Sarajevo
According to the criteria of underground water classification
(table 1), the following tables (9, 10, 11) show division of
identified waters at the region Ilidza-Sarajevo into 3 basic
groups: thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters whether
they’re found as springs, sources or wells. Tables also
summarize the physical and chemical characteristics of the
presented waters.
Table 9: Physico-chemical characteristics of thermomineral
sources/ springs in the Sarajevo field: Terma- Ilidza and Slana
Bara- Blazuj according to Cervenjak 1984-1985
Spring:
Na
K
Ca
Mg
HCO
3
SO
4
Cl
TDS (mg/l)
t (ºC)
Terma
260
14
470
79.3
1342
500
320
3057
57.5
Slana bara
110.7
8.5
370
140
1433
385
124
2596
24
(Source: Skopljak, 2006. Prepared by authors)
Table 10: Physico-chemical characteristics of thermal waters in
the Sarajevo field: IB-7 Butmir, IB-4 Sokolovic kolonija, SG-1
Rakovica, ''CC Well'' Hadzići according to Geoengineering
institute of Bosnia and Herzegovina 1987 and Frescenius
Germany, 2003
Well:
Na
K
Ca
Mg
HCO
3
SO
4
Cl
TDS (mg/l)
t (ºC)
IB-7
1.29
1.35
57.6
9.73
170.8
24.69
14.2
294.9
22
IB-4
3.01
-
72.1
23.2
268.8
51
6
424.2
14
CC Well
1.7
0.6
58.2
28
308
4.8
1.3
407
17.5
SG-1
1.3
1.7
68
30.2
346
2.8
2.5
461
13.4
(Source: Skopljak, 2006. Prepared by authors)
Table 11: Physico-chemical characteristics of mineral waters in
the Sarajevo field: sources Boljkovici, Azapovici and Buhotina
according to Health institute of Sarajevo 1976-1977
Source:
Na
Ca
Mg
HCO
3
SO
4
Cl
TDS (mg/l)
t (ºC)
Buhotina
25.7
225
121
1295.3
13.4
16.6
1697
10
Boljkovici
2.2
658
144
539.8
1725
10.6
3083
11.5
Azapovici
2.9
622
78.4
586.6
1332
9.40
2639
11
(Source: Skopljak, 2006. Prepared by authors)
According to the classificational model of medicinal waters
suitable for treatment by drinking or bathing (table 2), all
thermal, thermomineral and mineral waters at Ilidza-Sarajevo are
identified as the water elevated mineralization (total
mineralisation 1-5 g/l), while their temperature gives them
features of balneological waters (as it’s mostly above 18ºC).
However, Jonker (2016) stated that curative waters are classified
according to total mineralization into 3 groups: akrato/ simple,
oligo-metallique and highly mineralized. According to the
Jonker’s classificational model (table 3) which is current
generally accepted mineralization standards use in balneology,
the identified sources (whether it’s springs or wells) at Ilidza-
Sarajevo can be divided into 2 basic groups, while there is no
oligo-metallique type of medicinal waters:
a) Highly mineral waters: Terma, Slana Bara; Buhotina,
Boljkovici, Azapovici
b) Akrato/ Simple thermal waters: IB-7, IB-4, CC Well, SG-1
According to the classificational of medicinal waters mineral
content (table 4), waters from the section of “highly mineral
waters” (2 thermomineral springs and 3 mineral sources) at
Ilidza-Sarajevo can be classified as it follows:
a) Alkaline waters: Terma, Slana Bara; Buhotina; this
responds to Skopljak (2006) determination of
“hydrocarbonated-sulphur-calcic-chloridic” type of
thermomineral water (Terma) and “hydrocarbonated-
sulphur-calcic-magnesyc” type of thermomineral water
(Slana Bara), and alkaline waters (Ca-Mg type) which is
equivalent to “hydrocarbonated-calcic” type of mineral
water (Buhotina)
b) Sulphurous waters: Boljkovici, Azapovici; this match with
Skopljak (2006) identification of “sulphur-
hydrocarbonated-calcic-magnesyc” type of mineral water
(Boljkovici) and “sulphur-hydrocarbonated-calcic” type of
mineral water (Azapovici)
Respecting the classificational model based on the temperature
of thermal and thermomineral waters (table 5), all sources of
thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters at the region Ilidza-
Sarajevo can be classified as it follows:
I. According to the criteria of Vintras (1883), Djerkovic
(1971) and Komatina (2004), there are 2 different types of
thermal waters at Ilidza-Sarajevo:
a) Warm (Slana Bara and IB-7)
b) Very hot (Terma)
c) Cold waters (IB-4, CC Well, SG-1, Buhotina,
Boljkovici, Azapovici)
II. According to the criteria of Spahic (2005), there are 2 types
of thermal and thermomineral waters in this region:
a) hypothermal (source of Slana Bara and water from
well IB-7), and
b) hyperthermal (spring of Terma).
III. But, compared to the contemporary critera of Karagülle
(2014), almost all determined springs at the region belong to
the cold waters, while the only exception is Terma which is
recognized as the main source- hot/ highly thermal spring.
This is nowdays counted as the basic balneologic
classification for medicinal waters (Karagülle & Karagülle,
2014). Jonker (2016) stated that the indicative water
temperature for balneology is 50ºC. Zunic (2015) stated that
termomineral waters with temperature above 58ºC in
Sarajevo are used for the balneology and other purposes.
Miosic, Samardzic and Hrvatovic (2015) stated the spring
with the highest temperature (58°C) in Bosnia and
Herzegovina is in Ilidža - Sarajevo with total power of all
the wells of this deposit of 50 MWt. It proves the Terma’s
undeniable geothermal capacity and balneological value at
the same time.
3.4 Valorisation and balneological indications of Ilidza
waters
Thermomineral waters at Ilidza carring a huge geothermal
potential (Miosic and Hrvatovic, 1999). Valorisation of this
waters resulted in a wide application (warming of objects,
balneological- spa centres, heating pumps, conservatories,
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aquaculture, industry, melting the snow, drying fruits and
vegetables, etc.). Thermomineral waters at Blazuj has a
balneological use as health waters weather for inhaling or the
pools or even a drinking waters. Exploitational reserves of
thermomineral waters at Blazuj are used for the production of
bottled mineral water under the industrial company “Ilidzanski
dijamant/ Ilidza Diamond”, and this water supply not only
domestic but also foreign market (it’s exporting good). Thermal
waters of Sarajevo field are used for the water supply, bottling
and recreation. Thermal water from IB-4 is used for the pools of
Ilidza. According to Lund’s natatorium design conditions, the
water temperature of a different type of pools (recreational,
therapeutic, competition, diving, whirlpool/ spa) have a range
from 24 to 40ºC (Lund, 1996), which means that thermomineral
waters at Ilidza (Terma and Slana bara) have a suitable
application for any type of indoor pools, while recently found
thermal waters (e.g. IB-7 and CC Well) could be used with a
simple adaptation by rational heating. Water from CC-Well can
be used in a food or water industry or for some other
technological process. Mineral waters are mostly used as
drinking waters, while the water from the source of Buhotina has
the best quality for that purpose. Thermomineral waters with
temperature above 58ºC in Sarajevo are used for the electricity
production, warming, balneology, agriculture, recreation, etc.
(Zunic, 2015). Balneological, chemical and physiotherapeutic
research showed that thermomineral sulphurous waters from
Ilidza are mostly used to the following balenological indications:
Rheumatic diseases (inflammatory rheumatic disease,
rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew’s
disease and Marie-Strümpell disease), juvenile arthritis,
degenerative rheumatism, osteoarthritis, spondylosis,
polyarthrose, gonarthrosis, osteoporosis).
Neurological disease (a condition after stroke, multiple
sclerosis, cerebral palsy, neuralgia, painful syndromes of
the neck and back, polyradiculopathies, polyneuropathy,
disk herniation, sciatic neuralgia).
Orthopaedic diseases (conditions after illness, injury and
surgery of the locomotor system, the postoperative state on
the spinal column, the situation after the operation –
installing hip and knee arthroplasty, meniscus surgery).
Dermatological diseases (psoriasis, eczema, seborrhoea,
dermatitis and others, allergies, acne).
Urological disease (urogenital diseases, prostate).
Gynaecological diseases (sterility and non-specific
inflammatory diseases of the urogenital tract).
Metabolic diseases (diabetes, uric acid (gout), metabolic
syndrome (obesity).
Program of physical therapy of prevention, treatment and
rehabilitation according to the findings, and program
recommended by physiatrist:
Treatment with sulphuric thermal mineral water and mud
(mud wraps, pearl bath, medical bath, underwater massage
in a mineral water, galvanic bath, Hubbard bath).
A wide selection of traditional and modern
physiotherapeutic procedures (thermal, electro, helium,
sono-thermal, magnets, hydro).
Balneo-physical program include underwater massage in sulphur
water, etc. (Program of Treatment and Rehabilitation, Health Spa
Terme, Ilidza, Sarajevo)
3.4.1 The Spa Park of Ilidza- Sarajevo
The spa park and architectonic monuments with the luxurious
hotels concentrated around the thermomineral sources are
respresentative health spa complex at the region of Ilidza. It is
located at the left bank of the Zeljeznica river with its total area
of 14 ha. The perifer area consist the remains of the Roman
settlement “Aqua S.”, while its central area is represented with
the marble fountain surrounded with promenades and grasslands
decorated with seasonal flowers. The horticultural conception
was made in the neobarok geometric style with the visual effect
of the “green carpets” around the fountain and in the front of the
hotels. The spa park of Ilidza is the part of the national protected
area- Natural Monument of Vrela Bosne/ Springs of Bosnia
(Category III of IUCN categorization of protected areas) and it
represents its II buffer zone (Hadzidervisagic, 2014). The springs
occurs It’s connected to it via Velika aleja/ Big Tree Alley of
Platanus and Aesculus/ The Great Avenue (3.5 km), which is
also an attractive content of the same buffer zone. This site is
located in the distance of only 2 km from Sarajevo International
Airport and 8 km from the centre. It reflects a touristically
liveliness, but it’s also one of the favourite recreational area for
the residents.
Figure 5: The Spa Park Ilidza/ Spa Resort Ilidza- Sarajevo,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
(Web Gallery of Hotels Ilidza, Sarajevo)
Figure 6: The luxury spa hotel Austria at Ilidza existing more
than a century- since 1892 and it was renovated in 2018; the
background is presented with a beautiful mountain surrounding
of Igman
(L. Zunic’s Private collection)
Figure 7: The Great Avenue is an attractive promenade of
endemic platanus which connecting the Spa Park Ilidza with the
Springs of Bosnia
(L. Zunic’s Private collection)
4 Conclusion
The results of research reveal balneological classification of
thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters at the region of
Ilidza- Sarajevo and its impact on the tourism development.
Ilidza waters at the contemporary balneological models
according their physical and chemical characteristics particulary
the temperature and the mineral content and total mineralisation,
are recognized as water elevated mineralisation with
balneological features, while the most valuable is highly
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AD ALTA JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPL INARY RESEARCH
mineralised, alkaline and highly thermal spring- Terma. The
study explores balneological indications of presented medicine
waters and their valorisation thrue the identified spa hotels at
Ilidza which is the competitive product of the Sarajevo
destination (health & spa tourism). The genesis of thermal,
thermomineral and mineral waters showed their occurrence at
the surface as springs or sources, while others were recently
found at wells mostly along the tectonic fault of Busovaca,
reflecting the undeniable geothermal potential of this region.
Majority of waters is enriched with sulphur so the site itself
behaves like the spa environment with natural inhalation. This
paper will help spatial planners to understand contemporary
processes at Sarajevo destination that are related to the tourism
impact of balneological waters at Ilidza. Balneological use of
thermomineral, thermal and mineral waters particulary by the
organized form thrue the luxurious spa hotels contributes a lot in
the tourism development of Sarajevo which was confirmed by
the preceding number of visitors and overnight stays at the area
of Ilidza, as well as by the empirical (terrain) findings. The
author’s informal interaction with the guests/ tourists explored
their huge interest in the spa programs and such accommodation.
The future studies could focus on finding new sources of
thermomineral water and its balneological- tourism exploitation,
or how to valorisate the water from recent wells for this purpose?
The paper presented the Spa park of Ilidza as the basic
balneological site in Sarajevo that could be a popular health
tourism destination in Europe because of existing “medicine”
waters and the competitive spa offer. Besides, Sarajevo is
gaining more attention day by day not only because of the
thermomineral resources but its unique attractiveness as the
“European Jerusalem”. The Sarajevo as a European tourism
destination is interesting because of its unique natural and
cultural heritage, while the spa centres with an attractive
environment near to the city centre present an invaluable tourist
treasure. Therefore, the study should initialize interest of foreign
investors for the region of Ilidza. The research should also
stimulate new ideas of thermomineral water valorisation in the
health tourism thrue the creating a wide spectar of spa products
as the wellness (which is the part of the health tourism concept)
present the new mode of tourism. It’s very important to improve
and promote the health and spa programs at the highest level
because the therapeutic and rehab programs affect longer
overnight stays then the simple/ or usual tourist stay in
destination. Up to now, Sarajevo has mostly based its tourism
product on the multicultural complexity and the mountain
surroundings, but it is stil counted as a “city break destination”,
while by the highlighting the health and spa products we could
potentially extend the tourist stay. This paper should awake the
new tips for the marketing of Sarajevo as a European health
tourism destination. Therefore, the balneological site of Ilidza
could become the potential spa European site of tourist
gathering.
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Primary Paper Section: D
Secondary Paper Section: DB, DE, DN; AK, AQ
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