On our planet there are a huge number of places about which legends make up. One of them is Red Lake in Romania. This usual at first glance pond has long been dubbed the "killer", having associated with it many mystical stories. Where is the lake located? How is it remarkable?
Red Lake in Romania
The mountain lake is located in the north-eastern part of the country, near the Bikaz gorge. The coastline is almost three kilometers long, so you can easily get around it in an hour. This is a natural lake that was formed without human intervention.
Compared to many other reservoirs of the Earth, it is quite young. Often, the formation of lakes takes tens, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years. Red Lake in Romania appeared only in 1837. Perhaps that is why there are so many legends about him.
One of them says that there used to be a large pasture here. Once during a thunderstorm, local shepherds died here along with the sheep. Part of the rock broke off, blocking the river, and the pasture was filled with water. The next morning, the villagers saw a lake red with the blood of the dead.
Although the body of water really formed after a heavy downpour and collapse of the rock, the water itself is in its usual color. But the soil around is red. Its particles fall into the water with the wind, giving it a slightly purple tint. In Romanian, the water body is called Laku Roshu, which literally translates as "Lake Red." The depth of the reservoir is only ten meters, and its shape is elongated and resembles the Russian letter "G".
The legend of a beautiful girl
What legend goes without a beautiful girl and a young man in love with her? If the first legend is realistic and, in principle, could be true, then the second story is more romantic. That is what they tell most often to tourists who came here.
She tells the story of the young beauty Esther, who fell in love with an equally handsome guy. This love was very strong, and most importantly, mutual. The young man was also crazy about Esther and even made her an offer. But not everything is so smooth. Right on the eve of the wedding, the guy was taken into the army.
The girl was worried about separation. She often came to a mountain river to be alone and think about her beloved. One evening she was seen by a robber. He was struck by the beauty of the girl and immediately offered her a hand and a heart. The robber promised to take her to the mansions and present her with expensive clothes and jewelry.
Esther refused, so without thinking twice, he stole her. The girl did not want to be unloved. She began to ask the rocks for help, and they obeyed. The mountains began to shake, huge stones collapsed, falling asleep to the robber and Esther. At the same time, they blocked the course of the river, and a small lake was formed.
Bicaz Gorge
Not far from the lake is the Bikaz gorge. It appeared thanks to the river of the same name, from the sleeve of which the Red Lake was formed. Bicaz is the longest and deepest gorge in all of Romania. It connects its two provinces: Moldova and Transylvania.
Inside the gorge, a road stretches along the river. She is unusually beautiful and exciting. Over a narrow paved strip overhang high powerful cliffs. The river did not make its way directly, it often wriggled and turned back, so the road spins like a serpentine.
About six and a half hectares of the territory around the gorge are included in the conservation area. Many interesting species of animals live here. Trout is found in the rivers, and a rare local bird, the red-winged stenogloss, settles in the rocks themselves.
The cliffs of Bicaza are very fond of climbers, but for tourists of another rank there is something to see. So, for example, you can explore the cave of the Waterfall and the Black Cave. And finally, climb the peaks of Suhardul Mik, located directly above Lake Red in Romania.
Popular corner
Due to its not very typical origin, the lake has become a real highlight of the country. He is popularized, and legends about him are cherished and actively distributed among visitors. Near the pond there are many tents with souvenirs, restaurants and cafes, hotels.
The very place where the lake is located has charm and is covered with a fleur of mystery. This is not surprising, because it is surrounded by the Carpathian mountains, covered with coniferous trees. When the lake formed, the banks of the river flooded, and part of the forest was under water.
The trees hold on tight to the bottom of the pond, and the wreckage of their trunks peers out. Just swimming here is probably not worth it. However, a boat trip is feasible. Through the efforts of local travel agencies, all conditions have been created for this.