TEMPLE OF NATURE-RETEZAT MOUNTAINS
For almost two centuries, the Retezat has been recognized as a “temple of nature”, being a place sought by explorers from all corners of Europe.
Hearing from everywhere that the place is remarkable, I decided to pay a visit.
Retezatul is the place mirrored by exceptional lakes and peaks, worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
Lacul Bucura– The glacial lakes were formed in the heats of prehistoric glaciers, by the accumulation of water from rain and snow and by the leakage of springs. This was also the case with the lakes of Retezat, but the legends of the people attributed to their origin fantastic explanations. One of them says that in the old days there were giants living here, who lowered their arms into the mountain making their “warms” deep in the stone in which the water gathered, and they quenched their thirst here after the bloody battles.
Thus, says the legend, Lacul Bucura, the largest lake in the Retezat Massif and also the largest glacial lake in Romania, would have been created.
The lake, at an altitude of 2,040 metres, measures almost nine hectares and reaches a depth of 15.5 metres. On the lakeside there is a Salvamont refuge, and in summer, its surroundings turn into a huge tent camp, erected by mountain lovers.
As a location, the lake lies between the Vârful Peleaga and Șaua Bucurei in the Retezat mountains.
Vârful Peleaga is the highest peak in the Retezat Mountains, the Meridional Carpathians, with an altitude of 2509 meters, being the seventh highest peak in Romania. Besides, the feeling is indescribable when you arrive and see the enchanting view.
The lake can be admired in all its splendor from the height of the 2509 meters of the peak.
If I chose a word that best describes the road to the Lake and to Vârful Peleaga, the most appropriate would be Heaven. A trail like in Heaven, with waterfalls along the paths through the forest, raw green as in the enchanted stories, lakes that mirror you when you stop to draw your soul, and valleys stretched as far as the eye can see, just good to take to the foot without even getting tired.
Places like this make you fall in love with the mountain, slowly become a part of you, and hiking becomes a passion.
Due to the fact that I have visited these places and because they are as out of the story, I recommend visiting them. Time is precious, that’s why the best adventure is with the passionate and loving people of such places.
One thing is certain – the Retezat Mountains are so beautiful, they can only attract beautiful people.
Until next time,