YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW- THE CLUJ COUNTY LAKES AS A COMMODITY "The Lakes in our Lives“ "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Map of the lakes from Cluj County "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Ştiucii Lake natural lake, with fresh water, situated in Bontului Valley ; surface: 26 ha; depth: m; it is a protected natural area of national importance (1966); it is the only lake in Romania where the floating reed islet grows; legend: 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 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, mysterious disappearances, strange phenomena, all of these turned the lake into a Transylvanian Loch Ness. "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Geaca - Legii Lakes in the area of Geaca village there is a chain of lakes called “The Transylvanian Delta” Legii Lake and the west side of the Geaca Lake belong to a protected area of national importance – Legiilor Valley- due to the existence of hydrophilic plants: reed and bulrush, various species of fish (plant-eating, carp, perch) and numerous specious of migrating birds (egret, seagull, heron, ember goose); Lacul Geaca Lacul Legii Boul de baltă "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

The Lake of Gheorgheni Neighbourhood (Cluj- Napoca) it is 600 years old; the first historical attestation of the lake dates back to 1370, in a document belonging to the Hungarian King, Ludovic de Anjou, document which is still kept in the city’s archives in the past it was called “The Bottomless Lake” in the ‘70s the lake was transformed into an entertainment area; in order to excavate it, a dredger from the Danube Delta was brought; the dredger looked like a small ship, so the rumour that there is a ship in Cluj-Napoca began to spread; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Chios Lake it is an entertainment area located in The Central Park of Cluj-Napoca; it was arranged as an entertaining area in 1865 when The Park Association established and took the park over in order to restore it; the Central Park is considered to be one of the historical monuments of Cluj-Napoca; Chios Lake is an ideal place for relaxation. In the summer you can admire the small island in the middle of the lake with its wild ducks or you can go by boat. In the winter the lake turns into a superb natural skating ring. It’s not allowed to fish or swim in Chios Lake; The depth of the lake is 2 m; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

The Salty Lakes of Turda there are 16 salty lakes in Turda (L.Roman, l.Fără fund, l.Csiky, l.Privighetorii, l.Durgău, L.Sulfuros, L.Carolina;l.Ocnei, etc) all these lakes used to be Roman or Medieval Salt mines, filled with water in time; 7 of the 16 lakes are used nowadays in balneotherapy and they are heliothermic; The Roman Lake began to be used in balneotherapy because its water is rich in sodic chloride. On the bottom of the lake it was discovered a sandy, grey mud layer, 80 cm thick which lies over a salty layer. The lake inside the Turda Salt Mine is extremely salty, therefore excellent for treatment. It is 8 m deep and in the middle of it there is a small island made of residual salt deposited here after Lacul Roman Lacul din Salina Turda "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Lakes of Ocna Dej Ocna Dejului has a complex potential in balneotherapy due to its lakes with salty water and salty clay and mud; these lakes were formed on the spot of old salt mines which had fallen in; the most important lakes are: Toroc, Iosif, Ştefan şi Mina Mare; legend of Toroc lake : In the 1700s a salt mine fell in and 80 miners were 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 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 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 from the old galleries; these are thought to be the cries for help of the 80 miners who never found peace. Lacul Toroc "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

The Blue Lagoon it is a spectacular lake due to its intense blue colour; it was formed on the spot of a former kaolin mine; this mine was flooded by the underground springs which made through the fragile layer of kaolin; in the excavated pits the water from rain gathered giving birth to this incredible lake; the colour of the lake is given by the kaolin residue lying on the bottom of the lake; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Bondureasa Lake it is a lake situated in Ierii Valley; in this area, Ierii Valley forms a magnificent amphitheatre with rocky walls, rock slides, fir trees and birch trees growing on it; it is a very isolated place; it is considered to be a natural reservation valuable for its spectacular landscape; " The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Tarniţa Lake it is situated in Gilau Mountains, on the inferior stream of the river Somesul Cald ; surface: 215 ha; length: over 8 km; maximum depth: 70 m; legend of the lake: It is said that at the bottom of the lake there are three hucks, more than three meters long. They stay still until something appears on the lake, then they attack swimmers and boats. People believe that most of the drowned persons whose bodies were never found were attacked by these creatures. The legend was confirmed by experienced divers who said they saw monster-like- fish at the bottom of the lake. Tarnita lake is considered to be a protected area, due to its valuable landscape; it is also a very appreciated touristic zone of Cluj County; on the lake people can fish, practice water skiing and sail. "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Gilău Lake it is a storage lake that was formed after the building of a dam on Somesu Mic river in 1972; research shows that the preexisting landscape at the bottom of the lake turned into a real alluvial plain; on the upper side of the lake a micro delta appeared together with specific vegetation and fauna; Legend says that Gelu Voivod, one of the founders of the Romanian people, died at the junction of Capus stream and Somesu Mic river and it is supposed that the name of the lake, Gilau comes from this Gelu Voivod. it is considered to be a protected natural area; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Beliş-Fântânele Lake Belis-Fântânele 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. legend: 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, 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 the fish. When the level of the water lowers, people can see the church, as a remaining sign of the old village. the lake is a perfect place for those who are in love with sailing; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School

Drăgan (Floroiu) Lake it is an artificial storage lake, situated downstream the junction of the rivers Dragan and Sebes; the dam was built in 1987, on a rocky land, which made the construction even more difficult; legend says that at the bottom of the lake there are the ruins of a cottage used as a refuge shelter in the Second World War; the cottage was also used as a storage place for those who worked in the woods; it is an important natural area protected for its unique landscape; "The Lakes in our Lives" "Aurel Vlaicu" Tehnological High School