Tarnița Lake / Beliș-Fântânele Lake

Tarnița Lake and Beliș-Fântânele Lake are two artificial reservoirs located in the basin of the Crișul Negru and Someșul Rece rivers, in the Munții Gilău area, Cluj County. Tarnița Lake, built between 1972 and 1974, covers approximately 220 hectares and has a capacity of around 95 million cubic metres. It is used for electricity generation by the hydroelectric power plant of the same name, which has an installed capacity of 45 MW. Beliș-Fântânele Lake, completed in 1977, is considerably larger, covering over 360 hectares with a capacity of approximately 224 million cubic metres, making it one of the largest reservoirs in Munții Apuseni. When Beliș-Fântânele Lake was filled, the village of Beliș was submerged, leaving a historical landmark beneath the water that becomes partially visible during periods of drought when the water level drops significantly. The surrounding area is covered by coniferous and deciduous forests typical of the mountain zone, at altitudes ranging between 800 and 1,200 m. The lakes are accessible via DJ 107S from Cluj-Napoca, approximately 50 km from the city. Activities in the area include sport fishing, kayaking, and hiking along the marked trails in the vicinity. The two lakes are worth visiting for the combination of technically noteworthy hydroelectric infrastructure, the underwater history of the village of Beliș, and the diversity of aquatic and forest habitats in the surrounding area.