Lacul Iezer

Lacul Iezer is a glacial lake located in the Munții Rodnei range, at an altitude of approximately 1,740 m, in the upper basin of the Iza valley, within Maramureș County. The lake covers an area of roughly 0.7 hectares, with a maximum depth of approximately 4 m, and is one of the few glacial lakes found within this mountain massif. The lake basin was excavated into the bedrock during the last Pleistocene glaciation, approximately 10,000–15,000 years ago, through the action of ice from a small cirque glacier. The Munții Rodnei, within which the lake lies, are composed predominantly of Precambrian and Cambrian crystalline schists, with the presence of granites and gneisses. The area is part of the Munții Rodnei National Park, a protected area of national and international significance designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. The flora surrounding the lake includes characteristic alpine and subalpine species: dwarf juniper, bilberry, lingonberry, various sedge species, and bog mosses. The fauna includes the alpine salamander, various amphibian species, and birds characteristic of the alpine zone. The lake is accessible from the town of Borșa or from Poiana Borșa by following the marked trails through the Munții Rodnei, with a walking time of approximately 4–5 hours. It is well worth a visit, as it offers the opportunity to observe well-preserved glacial landforms and alpine ecosystems typical of the Eastern Carpathians, within one of Romania's most important protected areas.