Lacul Iezer, Munții Făgăraș

Lacul Iezer is a glacial lake in the Fagaras Mountains at about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet), surrounded by steep mountain walls and alpine meadows filled with native plants. The clear water mirrors the rocky landscape and creates a striking contrast with the rugged peaks above.

The lake formed during the last ice age when glaciers carved a deep basin into the rock through slow, grinding movement. After the ice melted thousands of years ago, water filled this depression and created the lake that exists today.

Shepherds still use the alpine meadows around the lake to graze their flocks, a practice that has shaped mountain life here for centuries. You might encounter them tending their animals on the slopes during the warmer months.

You can reach the lake by following marked hiking trails that start from nearby mountain villages, and the hike takes roughly five hours on foot. Good hiking boots are essential, and you should check the weather before going since mountain conditions at this elevation can change quickly.

The lake water is exceptionally cold and clear, with temperatures staying just above freezing even in summer. These harsh conditions make swimming impossible, but they create perfect conditions for photographing mirror-like reflections of the surrounding mountains.