�The Natural Heritage of Buzău
Tudorache Ştefania
Class VII-D, secondary school no. 7 Bz
•Buzău hosts numerous protected natural areas:
Unique natural phenomena
Protected natural areas
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•The Mud Volcanoes
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‣ Mud volcanoes are an extremely rare and spectacular natural phenomenon. Imagine small “volcanoes” that do not spew lava, but cold mud. They are not dangerous, but they look like real volcanoes in miniature.
‣ Under the ground there are natural gases that rise to the surface. On their way they push water and clay, and this mixture comes to the surface in the form of mud cones that bubble and slowly pour, forming a lunar landscape, like on the Moon.
•Myths and Local Legends conected to the Mud Vulcanoes:�� ‣1. The Sleeping Dragon Beneath the Hills��One of the oldest local legends says that a giant dragon lies buried under the hills of Buzău.�Its breath is so strong that it pushes the earth, creating boiling craters and making the mud bubble.��‣2. The Gate to the Underworld��Because the ground is cracked, barren, and always bubbling, people once believed the mud volcanoes were gates to the underworld.��‣3. The Earth’s Curse��According to one tale, a village once stood where the mud volcanoes are today.�The people became greedy and forgot to respect the land. As punishment, the earth “opened,” swallowing the village and leaving behind a lifeless, salty desert that “boils” to this day.�
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•The Living Fire of Lopătari
•The Living Fire of Lopătari is one of those natural wonders you don’t see every day. It’s a small flame that burns directly out of the ground, right here on the hillside, no wood, no fuel, nothing made by humans. The flame is fed by natural gas escaping from underground. When the gas meets the air, it lights up and keeps burning. Sometimes it’s small and gentle, sometimes it grows taller, depending on the weather and gas pressure.
What makes it special is the atmosphere. You’re standing in nature, surrounded by silence and forest, and suddenly you see this lonely flame dancing on the earth. At sunset it looks almost magical.
Locals call it ‘Focul care nu moare’ ~ ‘the fire that never dies.’
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�•Myths and Local Legends conected to the Living Fire of Lopătari:��‣1. The Fire of the Ancient Dacians��Local folklore says the flame was lit by the Dacians, who considered it a sacred fire of purification.�According to legend, the fire was kept alive by Dacian priests to protect the land from evil spirits.��‣2. The Dragon’s Breath��Many locals tell children that a dragon sleeps under the hill.�Its hot breath escapes through cracks in the ground, creating the mysterious eternal flame.�When the flame flickers or grows tall, they say: “The dragon has turned in its sleep.”��‣3. The Never-Ending Love��A romantic legend tells of two lovers from rival villages who were forbidden to marry. Heartbroken, they met on the hillside one last time. Their tears touched the earth, and the ground opened, releasing a flame that symbolises their love — a fire that never dies.
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•The Meledic Plateau
‣ The Meledic Plateau is a fascinating place shaped by ancient volcanic activity. Its rocky terrain is dotted with basalt columns and lava formations, a reminder of the Earth’s fiery past. Walking here feels like stepping into a natural museum of geology.
‣ Beneath the surface, the plateau hides caves and old quarries, some carved by humans centuries ago. These underground spaces tell stories of both natural forces and human history, offering a mysterious and adventurous vibe.
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•Myths and Local Legends conected to The Meledic Plateau:��‣1.The “Bottomless” or “Fundless” Lake�� At the heart of the plateau lies Lacul Meledic — often called the “Lacul fără fund” (the Bottomless Lake). Many locals believe the lake has no bottom, or at least that its depths are mysterious and unreachable.� One popular legend says that in the late 1800s a horse-drawn cart loaded with barrels of “mineral water” fell into the lake. But people began to suspect the barrels actually hid a treasure — precious goods or valuables. After the crash, the owners (or their heirs) tried to drain the lake to retrieve the treasure, but failed — they couldn’t empty the water, reinforcing the idea that the lake was bottomless.��‣2.The Unbuilt Castle – a Royal Dream�� There was once a plan to build a castle near the plateau — perhaps even under patronage of royalty (some versions of the story suggest a residence of Carol I of Romania was envisioned here). �Opinia Buzău. According to the legends, construction even began on a hill near the lake, but was abandoned for unclear reasons. Over time, stones and bricks were reportedly taken away or lost — and the castle remained only a dream.
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•The Eagle Lake
• Eagle Lake is the kind of natural place that feels almost otherworldly. Sitting high in the mountains, it’s a glacial lake shaped by ancient ice, tucked right between ridges and windswept meadows.
• What makes it truly special is the feeling when you reach it. After the long hike, you suddenly see this still, clear lake resting on the mountain plateau, reflecting the clouds like a mirror. On calm days the water looks perfectly smooth, but when the wind blows, tiny ripples shimmer across the surface.
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•Myths and Local Legends conected to The Eagle Lake:�� ‣1.Locals say young eagles once came here to test their wings. After touching the cold water, they found the courage to take their first real flight. That’s why the lake is named this way.�� ‣2.Some believe the lake is a thin veil between worlds. At sunrise, when the mist slides over the surface, shapes sometimes move through the fog. Locals say those are sky spirits passing quietly between realms.�� ‣3.One legend speaks of a shepherd who slept by the lake. In his dream, a golden eagle appeared and showed him where treasure lay hidden in the mountains. When he woke, the eagle was gone — but the ground where it had stood was still warm.�� ‣4.At dusk, the lake deepens to an almost enchanted blue. People whisper that it’s the shadow of the eagles returning, blessing the water with their silent flight, even when the sky seems empty.
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•Siriu Nature Reserve
•The Siriu Nature Reserve is one of those wild corners of Romania that feels untouched, almost secret. It stretches across steep ridges, deep forests, and rocky slopes shaped by ancient forces. Here, nature still moves at its own pace. You walk under tall spruces, hear nothing but wind and water, and suddenly the landscape opens into views that seem carved out of another world.
•What makes it truly special is the contrast, quiet forests that lead to dramatic cliffs like the Tigoarea formations, and calm trails that end at clear mountain streams. In some places, the ground hides rare plants and unique rock formations, created long before people ever set foot here.
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•Myths and Local Legends conected to The Siriu Nature Reserve:��‣1.Some locals say the Siriu mountains were once guarded by a giant spirit who carved the cliffs with his bare hands. The strange rock formations, especially the sharp ridges and towers, are said to be the marks he left behind while shaping a home for the forest creatures.��‣2.And then there’s the myth that certain springs in Siriu were created by tears of a mountain maiden, a spirit who fell in love with a wandering traveler. Wherever her tears touched the earth, clear water began to flow — and they say the springs never once ran dry.��‣3.There’s a legend that the lake of Siriu hides an ancient bell at its bottom. On quiet nights, people swear they can hear a faint ringing coming from beneath the water — a warning, they say, meant to keep travelers safe during storms.
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