Lake Izvorul Muntelui
| Lake Izvorul Muntelui | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Romania |
| Coordinates | 47°01′11″N 26°03′15″E / 47.01959°N 26.05408°ECoordinates: 47°01′11″N 26°03′15″E / 47.01959°N 26.05408°E |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Bistrița River |
| Primary outflows | Bistrița River |
| Basin countries | Romania |
| Max. length | 40 km |
| Max. width | 2 km |
| Surface area | 33 km² |
| Max. depth | 97 m |
| Water volume | 1,250 mio m³ (max) |
| Settlements | Bicaz port, Potoci |
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The Lake Izvorul Muntelui, also known as Lake Bicaz, is the largest[1] artificial lake on the interior waters of Romania; it was created after the completion of a dam built on the river Bistrița. The dam is located a few kilometers north of the town of Bicaz.
The dam was built between 1950 and 1960 and is used to generate hydroelectricity at the Bicaz-Stejaru hydro-plant. It has a height of 127 meters, a length of 435 meters, and a maximum width of 119 meters. The lake has a length of 40 kilometers, an area of 33 km² and a maximum volume of 1,250 million m³.
The lake is a popular tourist destination in the region, especially in summertime, when visitors can take the ferryboat from the Bicaz port for a short trip on the lake, enjoying the magnificent view of Mount Ceahlău on the west shore.
In the 1960s and 1970s there was regular ferry service between the Bicaz port and the villages on the lake shore.
At Potoci, a few kilometers north of the town of Bicaz, there is a biological research facility, equipped with a small submersible used for underwater explorations. The facility was visited by the marine biologist Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1984.