List of lakes of Romania facts for kids

Romania is home to many amazing lakes, both natural and man-made. These lakes come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny mountain pools to huge bodies of water created by dams. Some are famous, like Lake Sfânta Ana, which is Romania's only lake formed in a volcano! Others, like Lake Razelm, are super big and important for the environment. Let's explore some of Romania's cool lakes!

What Kinds of Natural Lakes Are There?

Natural lakes are formed by nature, without human help. Romania has several types:

Lakes from Glaciers

Imagine giant sheets of ice (glaciers) slowly moving across mountains thousands of years ago. As they moved, they carved out hollows in the rock. When the ice melted, these hollows filled with water, creating beautiful glacial lakes. They are often found high up in the mountains.

Here are some of the biggest glacial lakes in Romania:

A hectare is about the size of a large football field. A million cubic meters is a lot of water – enough to fill 400 Olympic swimming pools!

Lakes in Volcanoes

Sometimes, lakes form inside the craters of old, inactive volcanoes. These are called volcanic crater lakes. They are very rare and special!

Romania has one famous volcanic crater lake:

Lakes in Karst Areas

Karst lakes form in areas where the ground is made of soft rocks like limestone. Over time, rainwater dissolves these rocks, creating caves and sinkholes. If these sinkholes fill with water, they become karst lakes.

Some examples of karst lakes:

Lakes Behind Natural Dams

These lakes form when a natural event, like a landslide or an earthquake, blocks a river or valley. The water then builds up behind this natural barrier, creating a lake.

A well-known example is:

Lakes in Low Areas (Depressions)

Some lakes simply form in low-lying areas or "depressions" in the land where water collects. These can be quite large.

Here are a few:

Lakes Near Rivers

These lakes are often found right next to rivers. They might be old parts of the river that got cut off, or areas that flood and stay filled with water.

Some large lakes found near river banks:

Lakes Near Rivers and the Sea

These lakes are found where rivers meet the sea, often with a mix of fresh and salty water.

Examples include:

Lagoons: Where Land Meets Sea

Lagoons are shallow bodies of water separated from the sea by a narrow strip of land, like a sandbar. They often have a mix of fresh and saltwater.

Romania has some very large lagoons:

Lakes in River Valleys

These lakes are found within the wide, flat areas (valleys) that rivers flow through.

Some examples:

Lakes in the Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is a huge wetland area where the Danube River flows into the Black Sea. It's full of small lakes, channels, and marshes, making it a paradise for wildlife.

Some lakes in this special area:

What Are Major Man-Made Lakes?

Many large lakes in Romania are actually reservoirs. These are artificial lakes created by building a dam across a river. Reservoirs are very important because they store water for drinking, irrigation (watering crops), and generating electricity (hydroelectric power).

Here are some of Romania's biggest reservoirs:

Important Mountain Lakes

Many lakes in Romania are found high up in the mountains. Some are natural, like the glacial lakes we talked about, while others are reservoirs built to store water in the mountain valleys.

Here are some major mountain lakes:

Other Interesting Lakes

• Lake Sărat: This lake is special because its name means "Salty." It even has a layer of salt at the bottom! It's near Brăila and has a small beach.
• Lake Someșu Rece: This lake is located in Cluj County.

Images for kids

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  Someșu Rece Lake

See also

• List of lakes in Bucharest
• Ocna Sibiului mine#Lakes of the salt mine