The Lakes of Cluj CountyThe Lakes of Cluj County“The Likes in our Lives”

Erasmus + Project 2014-2016

Map of the lakes from Map of the lakes from Cluj Cluj County County

ŞtiuciiŞtiucii Lake Lake• natural lake, with fresh water, situated in Bontului Valleynatural lake, with fresh water, situated in Bontului Valley;;

• ssurfaceurface: 26 ha; : 26 ha; depthdepth: 10-12 m;: 10-12 m;

• it is a protected natural area of national importanceit is a protected natural area of national importance (1966); (1966);

• it is the only lake in Romania where the floating reed islet grows;it is the only lake in Romania where the floating reed islet grows;

• legend:legend: It is said that on the bottom of the lake there is a gate to another world. The gate is It is said that on the bottom of the lake there is a gate to another world. The gate is guarded by strange creatures like dragons, that spit fire and smell like sulphur. During the Roman guarded by strange creatures like dragons, that spit fire and smell like sulphur. During the Roman times an entire village was sunk in the lake. Experienced swimmers tried to reach the sunken times an entire village was sunk in the lake. Experienced swimmers tried to reach the sunken village, but they would be caught into whirlpools at the bottom of the lake. Monster like creatures, village, but they would be caught into whirlpools at the bottom of the lake. Monster like creatures, mysterious disappearances, strange phenomena, all of these turned the lake into a Transylvanian mysterious disappearances, strange phenomena, all of these turned the lake into a Transylvanian Loch Ness. Loch Ness.

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

Geaca - LegiiGeaca - Legii Lakes Lakes

• in the area of Geaca village there is a in the area of Geaca village there is a chain of lakes called “The Transylvanian chain of lakes called “The Transylvanian Delta”Delta”

•Legii Legii Lake and the west side of the Geaca Lake and the west side of the Geaca Lake belong to a protected area of national Lake belong to a protected area of national importance – Legiilor Valley- due to the importance – Legiilor Valley- due to the existence of hydrophilic plants: reed and existence of hydrophilic plants: reed and bulrush, various species of fish (plant-eating, bulrush, various species of fish (plant-eating, carp, perch) and numerous specious of carp, perch) and numerous specious of migrating birds (egret, seagull, heron, ember migrating birds (egret, seagull, heron, ember goose)goose);;

Lacul GeacaLacul Geaca

Lacul LegiiLacul Legii

Boul de baltăBoul de baltă

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

Chios Lake Chios Lake

• it is an entertainment area located in it is an entertainment area located in The Central Park of The Central Park of Cluj-Napoca;Cluj-Napoca;

• it was arranged as an entertaining it was arranged as an entertaining area in area in 18651865 when The Park Association when The Park Association established and took established and took the park over in the park over in order to restore it; the Central Park is order to restore it; the Central Park is considered to be one of the historical considered to be one of the historical monuments of Cluj-Napoca;monuments of Cluj-Napoca;

• ChiosChios Lake is an ideal place for Lake is an ideal place for relaxation. In the summer you can relaxation. In the summer you can admire the small island in the middle of admire the small island in the middle of the lake with its wild ducks or you can the lake with its wild ducks or you can go by boat. In the winter the lake turns go by boat. In the winter the lake turns into a superb natural skating ring.into a superb natural skating ring.

• It’s not allowed to fish or swim in It’s not allowed to fish or swim in Chios LakeChios Lake;;

• The depth of the lake isThe depth of the lake is 2 m; 2 m;

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

The Salty Lakes ofThe Salty Lakes of Turda Turda

• there are 16 salty lakes in Turdathere are 16 salty lakes in Turda (L.Roman, l.Fără fund, l.Csiky, l.Privighetorii, (L.Roman, l.Fără fund, l.Csiky, l.Privighetorii, l.Durgău, L.Sulfuros, L.Carolina;l.Ocnei, etc)l.Durgău, L.Sulfuros, L.Carolina;l.Ocnei, etc)

• all these lakes used to be Roman or Medieval all these lakes used to be Roman or Medieval Salt mines, filled with water in time;Salt mines, filled with water in time;

•7 of the 16 lakes are used nowadays 7 of the 16 lakes are used nowadays in in balneotherapy and they are heliothermic;balneotherapy and they are heliothermic;

• The The Roman Roman Lake began to be used in Lake began to be used in balneotherapy because its water is rich in sodic balneotherapy because its water is rich in sodic chloride. On the bottom of the lake it was chloride. On the bottom of the lake it was discovered a sandy, grey mud layer, 80 cm thick discovered a sandy, grey mud layer, 80 cm thick which lies over a salty layer. which lies over a salty layer.

•The lake inside the Turda Salt Mine is The lake inside the Turda Salt Mine is extremely salty , therefore excellent for extremely salty , therefore excellent for treatment. It is 8 m deep and in the middle of it treatment. It is 8 m deep and in the middle of it there is a small island there is a small island made of residual salt made of residual salt deposited here after 1800.deposited here after 1800.

Lacul RomanLacul Roman

Lacul din Salina Lacul din Salina TurdaTurda “The Lakes in our Lifes”

LaLakes of kes of Ocna DejOcna Dej

• Ocna Dejului Ocna Dejului has a complex potential in has a complex potential in balneotherapy due to its lakes with salty balneotherapy due to its lakes with salty water and salty clay and mud; these lakes water and salty clay and mud; these lakes were formed on the spot of old salt mines were formed on the spot of old salt mines which had fallen in;which had fallen in;

• the most important lakes arethe most important lakes are: Toroc, Iosif, : Toroc, Iosif, Ştefan şi Mina Mare;Ştefan şi Mina Mare;

• lelegend of Toroc lake : gend of Toroc lake : In the 1700s a salt mine fell in and 80 miners were In the 1700s a salt mine fell in and 80 miners were caught underground. Their families provided them with water and food supply caught underground. Their families provided them with water and food supply through a hole, but after a few days the hole was covered with mud. The cries for through a hole, but after a few days the hole was covered with mud. The cries for help of the 80 miners blocked underground were heart-breaking; their bodies help of the 80 miners blocked underground were heart-breaking; their bodies were never found again. In 1925 the ceiling of this salt mine fell in and an 8 m were never found again. In 1925 the ceiling of this salt mine fell in and an 8 m crater appeared. The rain and melted snow gathered and formed a lake in that crater appeared. The rain and melted snow gathered and formed a lake in that crater. While swimming in the lake, you can hear rumbles and noises coming crater. While swimming in the lake, you can hear rumbles and noises coming from the old galleries; these are thought to be the cries for help of the 80 miners from the old galleries; these are thought to be the cries for help of the 80 miners who never found peace. who never found peace.

Lacul TorocLacul Toroc

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

The Blue Lagoon The Blue Lagoon

• it is a spectacular lake due to its it is a spectacular lake due to its intense blue colour;intense blue colour;

• it was formed on the spot of a it was formed on the spot of a former kaolin mine; this mine was former kaolin mine; this mine was flooded by the underground flooded by the underground springs which made through the springs which made through the fragile layer of kaolin;fragile layer of kaolin;

• in the excavated pits the water from rain gathered giving birth to this incredible in the excavated pits the water from rain gathered giving birth to this incredible lakelake;;

• the the ccolour of the lake is given by the kaolin residue lying olour of the lake is given by the kaolin residue lying on the bottom of the on the bottom of the lake;lake;

BondureasaBondureasa Lake Lake

• it is a lake situated in Ierii it is a lake situated in Ierii Valley;Valley;

• in this area, Ierii Valley in this area, Ierii Valley forms a magnificent forms a magnificent amphitheatre with rocky amphitheatre with rocky walls, rock slides, fir trees walls, rock slides, fir trees and birch trees growing on and birch trees growing on itit;; it is a very isolated it is a very isolated place;place;

• it is considered to be a it is considered to be a natural reservation natural reservation valuable for its spectacular valuable for its spectacular landscapelandscape;;

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

TarniţaTarniţa Lake Lake

• it is situated in Gilau Mountains, on the it is situated in Gilau Mountains, on the inferior stream of the river Somesul Caldinferior stream of the river Somesul Cald;;

• ssurfaceurface: 215 ha; l: 215 ha; lengthength: : overover 8 km; 8 km; maximum maximum depthdepth: 70 m;: 70 m;

• legendlegend of the lake: of the lake: It is said that at the bottom of It is said that at the bottom of the lake there are three hucks, more than three the lake there are three hucks, more than three meters long. They stay still until something appears meters long. They stay still until something appears on the lake, then they attack swimmers and boats. on the lake, then they attack swimmers and boats. People believe that most of the drowned persons People believe that most of the drowned persons whose bodies were never found were attacked by whose bodies were never found were attacked by these creatures. The legend was confirmed by these creatures. The legend was confirmed by experienced divers who said they saw monster-like-experienced divers who said they saw monster-like-fish at the bottom of the lake.fish at the bottom of the lake.

• Tarnita lake is considered to be a protected area, Tarnita lake is considered to be a protected area, due to its valuable landscapedue to its valuable landscape;;

• it is also a very appreciated touristic zone of Cluj it is also a very appreciated touristic zone of Cluj County; on the lake people can fish, practice water County; on the lake people can fish, practice water skiing and sail.skiing and sail.

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

GilăuGilău Lake Lake

• it is a storage lake that was formed after the building of it is a storage lake that was formed after the building of a dam on Somesu Mic river in 1972;a dam on Somesu Mic river in 1972;

• research shows that the preexisting landscape at the research shows that the preexisting landscape at the bottom of the lake turned into a real alluvial plain; on the bottom of the lake turned into a real alluvial plain; on the upper side of the lake a micro delta appeared together upper side of the lake a micro delta appeared together with specific vegetation and faunawith specific vegetation and fauna;;

•LegendLegend ssays that Gelu Voivod, one of the ays that Gelu Voivod, one of the founders of the Romanian people, died at the founders of the Romanian people, died at the junction of Capus stream and Somesu Mic river junction of Capus stream and Somesu Mic river and it is supposed that the name of the lake, and it is supposed that the name of the lake, Gilau comes from this Gelu Voivod.Gilau comes from this Gelu Voivod.

• it is considered to be a protected natural area; it is considered to be a protected natural area;

“The Lakes in our Lifes”

Beliş-FântâneleBeliş-Fântânele Lake Lake

•

• Belis-Belis-FântâneleFântânele is an artificial storage lake built on Somesu Cald river; it has a surface of is an artificial storage lake built on Somesu Cald river; it has a surface of 9.8 km2 and a length of 13 km; its altitude is 990 m.9.8 km2 and a length of 13 km; its altitude is 990 m.

• llegend:egend: During the Communist period the authorities decided to build a huge dam on the During the Communist period the authorities decided to build a huge dam on the spot where a village lay. The inhabitants were moved on the hills nearby. All the houses, spot where a village lay. The inhabitants were moved on the hills nearby. All the houses, even the church were evacuated. After the retreat of the people, the water flooded the even the church were evacuated. After the retreat of the people, the water flooded the village destroying everything in its way, only the church is still standing as a prayer place for village destroying everything in its way, only the church is still standing as a prayer place for the fish. When the level of the water lowers, people can see the church, as a remaining sign the fish. When the level of the water lowers, people can see the church, as a remaining sign of the old village.of the old village.

• the lake is a perfect place for those who are in love with sailing;the lake is a perfect place for those who are in love with sailing;

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Drăgan (Floroiu)Drăgan (Floroiu) Lake Lake

• it is an artificial storage lake, situated it is an artificial storage lake, situated downstream the junction of the rivers Dragan downstream the junction of the rivers Dragan and Sebes; the dam was built in 1987, on a and Sebes; the dam was built in 1987, on a rocky land, which made the construction even rocky land, which made the construction even more difficult;more difficult;

• legendlegend s says that at the bottom of the lake there ays that at the bottom of the lake there are the ruins of a cottage used as a refuge are the ruins of a cottage used as a refuge shelter in the Second World Washelter in the Second World Warr; the cottage ; the cottage was also used as a storage place for those who was also used as a storage place for those who worked in the woodsworked in the woods;;

• it is an important natural area protected for its it is an important natural area protected for its unique landscape;unique landscape;

“The Lakes in our Lifes”