Iezerul Ighiel (Lacul Iezer)

Iezerul Ighiel, also known locally as Lacul Iezer, is a natural lake situated in the southern part of the Munții Trascău, in the area of the Ciumerna karstic plateau, within the administrative territory of Ighiu commune, the village of Ighiel, Alba County, at an altitude of approximately 925 metres. It is considered the largest natural barrier lake formed on Jurassic limestone in Romania, with a length of approximately 450 metres and a maximum depth of around 9 metres. Unlike artificially created reservoirs, Iezerul Ighiel formed naturally: a landslide blocked the valley across its entire width, causing water to accumulate behind this natural dam. A notable hydrological characteristic is its pattern of water intake and drainage: the lake has no surface outflow, being fed by karstic springs and draining underground through a system that gives rise, downstream, to the Ighiel stream and the Izbucul Iezerului spring. The surface watercourses that feed it are short and temporary, as they pass through a limestone region. The lake is renowned for its emerald-green colour and is surrounded by dense forests of beech, hornbeam, fir, pine and spruce, which also shelter rare plant species. The entire area has been declared a mixed-type nature reserve, protected by law and included in the Trascău site of community importance; as a protected area, activities such as swimming, fishing and the use of watercraft are prohibited. On the lake shore there is a forestry directorate cabin, and from the area trails set off towards the Ciumerna karstic plateau, offering views over the villages scattered across the ridges of the Trascău.