Lacu Rosu
osînditi la fericire, pe aceste meleaguri
guilty of happyness ....
photos - isabelle c
post - radu c
Carpati Mountains - ROSU LAKE
Lacul Rosu (Ghilcos) is natural storage lake at 980 m altitude, near Bicaz Gorges, at approximately 26 km from Gheorgheni city (Harghita County), on the national road 12/C, in the resort with the same name. The lake has "L" form, is 10 m deep (maximum depth is 10.5 m), an area of 12.7 ha, and a 2830 m circumference.
The lake is formed recently, in the summer of 1837. Then, after some abundant rains, a great quantity of rocks and debris slided from the Northen side of the Killer Rock (Stanca Ucigasului), blocking the Bicajel river. The water have accumulated and formed a natural storage lake. The unusual magic is amplified by a lot of empty truncks of the old fir trees, which come out from the water passing through the image of Little Suhard reflected in the lake mirror.
The name Lacu Rosu - Red Lake comes from the reddish alluvia deposited in the lake by its main tributary. The lake in unfortunately in danger because of the great quantity of alluvia transported by the tributary rivers (Rosu, Licas, Oii, Huhard and Ghilcos (Killer)).
The local tradition keeps two legends related to the lake origin:
Once lived in Lazarea a very beautiful girl with the name Estera. One day she went to the fair in Gheorgheni. Here she met a handsome and strong lad (he could fight with a bear). They felt in love immediately. The lad asked her to be his bride. But the wedding did not take place because the lad was taken to army. The girl waited for him. On the evenings, when he went for water to the spring, she sang so saddly that even the mountains were touched.
In a Sunday afternoon she was seen by a thief. The thief had lifted her and run away as quickly as he could to Suhardul Mic, the rocks with a thousand faces, were he lived. He promissed to Estera gold and silver only to love him, dut she did want nothing. The thief lost his patience and forced her to marry him. He have cryed to the mountains, begging for help. The rocks responded by thunders.
A big rain had started, wipping all in its way.
Under the rocks remaind the girl and the thief. After that the water from the
mountaind were gathered here forming the lake (Red Lake or The Killer).
An oter legend says: On the meadow between the mountains was a sheepfold. The shepherds, seeing the coming of a storm, have tried to shelter, but the Killer Mountain crushed down and burried them together with the sheeps.
