Izvorul Muntelui Lake (Bicaz Lake)

Another touristic attraction is the accumulation lake "Izvorul Muntelui"-"The Mountain Spring" ( 35 kms long, and a surface of 33square kms), known as "Lacul Bicaz"-"Bicaz lake". This is the biggest artificial (antrophical) lake disposed on the interior lakes of Romania, being situated on the superior course of Bistriţa river. The place was formed as a result of the building of the hydro-energetic barage of Bicaz, that is a real giant of 127m height, of which raising needed the excavation of more than 170.000 cubic metres of rock. From the lake the hydro-energetic station of Bicaz-Stejaru is feeding.

With good reason, the Mountain Spring lake is called ‘’The sea between the mountains’’. Imagine a water mirror of about 35 kms length, with a surface of about 32 square kilometres, laid behind an over 120 metres high barage.

The harbour disposed near the barage ( The Touristic Naval Harbour Complex of Bicaz) is the place from where the recreational races are leaving. Nearby, at about 150 kms far from the port, we find a new stylish touristic complex, called ‘’The Anchor”. In the port there is a floating hotel, accomodation houses and also a floating terrace for serving fishery products and Moldavian food.

If we came with our friend, wanting to sail across the lake and discover new beauties, we can rent a boat, a hydro-bike, or to embark in one of the ships (Reşiţa or Tuşnad), for a mini cruise to the Poiana Teiului Viaduct from ‘’Coada Lacului” ‘(The Lake’s End’’), the name got by the place.

On our voyage on the lake, we can observe from the deck the boarding houses showing their red roofs between the fir trees, the panorama of the mountain people’s houses climbed up on the hills, and, descending with the houses on the bank, we will surely see the Viaduct and the misterious Piatra Teiului. Then, after the ship sweps round for coming back, we will admire other charming landscapes, especially when we enter a small estuary formed by Izvorul Alb (the White Spring) at the confluence with the lake; we will see Ceahlău Mountain mirroring in the lake’s glitter, the camping place, the boarding houses and the little houses from the arranged area of Baicu, beauties that will remain in our soul.

We can also mention that, the Mountain Spring Lake has the status of Aquatic Reservation. In its dephts there are species of chub, barbel, perch, broad snout, gudgeon, roach, the famous huck, blak, and of course, trout. Therefore we will see lots of fishermen on the lake’s banks, trying their mastery.

It seems that the depths of the lake hide ancestral treasures. The divers here have discovered recently, on the bottom of the lake stones with runes, vestiges of a pelasg cemetery ( the pelasg is the oldest population on the continent who spoke a protolatin language). What is really interesting is that, on the whole course of Bistriţa river, upstream, they found a small plaque with an old writing, of over 10 thousand years, belonging to the same population.