One of Romania's most astonishing lakes, Ochiul Beiului - The Eye of The Bey - which is the Turkish title for chieftain used during the Ottoman Empire and still used today as a formal social title for Turkish men, is located in the Cheile Nerei - Beusnita National Park, a gorgeous area in the South-West of the country.


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With its mystical turquoise water, the lake makes for the perfect subject of countless legends and stories about it and the way it was formed.

One of the most known legend has it that the son of a local bey who ruled the area in the past had fallen in love with the beautiful girl of a local shepherd. The bey didn't like that his son was in love with a shepherd girl and ordered the girl to be killed. When he found out, the boy started crying so hard that he filled the lake with his tears. The lake also took the shape and color of his eyes.

Legends aside, when there, the lake really gives you a ravishing feeling with its amazing clarity and mesmerizing color.

Adding to the magic is the fact that the lake never loses its color and never freezes, even during winter. The reason is a strong underground karst spring which feeds the lake and makes the temperature of the water always remain between 4 and 8 Celsius degrees during the whole year.

This place was on my bucket list since a few years ago, but it was only this summer that I got the chance to explore it. If you ever set foot in Romania, I recommend checking out the area, as it's one of Romania's best.