Baskunchak is salt lake in Astrakhan region in the south of Russia. It means a dog’s head in Turkic language. From the eighth century merchants mined salt here and sent along the Silk Road in distant countries. Today Baskunchak is up to 80% of the total salt production in Russia. Lake is becoming popular among tourists. Despite the unbearable heat - 40 C - they come here for the healing waters and mud baths.