Elton is a salt lake located in the Volgograd region, about thirty kilometers from the Kazakh border. Amazingly, this salt lake is alive, housing mineral-rich microorganisms within it. The lake is a massive basin, with the lakebed covered by a thick layer of salt that continually precipitates from the solution, known as the "new sediment" layer. Due to external physical factors, layers of this sediment alternate with layers of mud that form a wide band around the lake. Beneath this sediment are extensive salt deposits, while the very top liquid layer of the lake, a highly concentrated salt solution, is called "brine." But Elton is not just about brine; it also contains unique healing mud. Elton's mud is classified as high-saline, silt-based, and sulfide-rich, forming a dense mass that retains heat well and has a hydrogen sulfide scent. Elton's mud is unique worldwide, similar to the mud of the Dead Sea but richer in sulfides, organic matter, and environmental benefits, making it even more effective. The effects of this mud are impressive. Unlike the Dead Sea, Elton is alive, home to various microscopic organisms such as rotifers, Brachionus, and Monostyla, as well as smaller crustaceans like Voltersdorffia, Diaptomus, and Artemia. The lake's main wealth, however, is its brine. The mineral concentration of Elton's brine ranges from 260 g/dm³ to 800 g/dm³, double that of the famous Dead Sea in Israel. For its healing salt and mud properties, Elton surpasses most lakes worldwide. The mud formation process at Elton is quite complex and involves a range of living organisms. After death, these animal and plant organisms provide abundant material for decomposition. Due to the high salt content, significant amounts of various bacteria and proteins emerge from decomposing organic matter. Certain microorganisms break down proteins, producing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, others break down fats, and others still, carbohydrates. Consequently, all components of any organism's body transform into a mass that, mixed with clay, forms Elton’s mud. Elton surpasses most of the world’s lakes for its healing salt and mud properties. The lake's depth is shallow, making it impossible to sink. Elton is a natural complex of rivers that flow into the salt lake, with seven small rivers or streams converging here: Khara, Lantsug, Bolshaya Smorogda, Malaya Smorogda, Karantinka, Solyanka, and Chernavka. The largest, Khara, stretches about 40 km, Bolshaya Smorogda 21 km, and Lantsug 13.5 km. Together, they cover an area of around 200 sq. km. At their mouths lie massive reserves of healing mud. Elton’s surroundings are home to numerous animals, making it a truly unique natural reserve. The climate here is hot and dry, promoting recovery from serious illnesses. Annual sunshine hours are about 2,200, slightly less than on the southern coast of Crimea, which enjoys 2,200–2,400 hours of sunlight annually.