Lacul Siriu, considerat unul dintre cele mai frumoase locuri din Romania, are 11,5 km lungime si este strajuit de barajul cu acelasi nume, construit pe raul Buzau. Brazii ce incadreaza lacul, viaductele serpuite si inaltimea maxima a barajului de 122 metri, creeaza un peisaj spectaculos, concretizat intr-o destinatie turistica irezistibila si in acelasi timp, foarte linistita.  Apa lacului Siriu este de un verde smarald intens, aproape ireal, spre care privesc crestele muntilor si brazii, iar la apus devine o oglinda imensa, magica, unde se amesteca culorile soarelui, norii si albastrul cerului. Realitatea este chiar mai presus de aceasta scurta poezie de atribute, cand veti ajunge acolo, imi veti da dreptate.

De la Bucuresti se ajunge in aproximativ doua ore si jumatate, iar in ceea ce priveste cazarea, sunt cateva pensiuni in zona, plasate chiar pe malul lacului, unde poti sa bei cafeaua de dimineata inconjurat de un peisaj splendid – u know, coffee with a view stuff from Instagram – dar poti face si plimbari cu barca pe lac, rafting, drumetii prin padure, la pas sau 4×4 si diverse trasee turistice, asa incat un sejur de 3-4 zile in regiune este perfect.

Langa lacul Siriu se gaseste ministatiunea Baile Siriu. Baile respective au trei izvoare de ape minerale feroase, termale, usor bicarbonate, clorurosodice, sulfuroase si foarte slab mineralizate.

Una dintre atractiile majore din zona este Cascada Casoca  (Pruncea), aflata la 5 km de Lacul Siriu, unde se ajunge din localitatea Casoca, pe un drum lateral, pietruit, de 4 km, prin padure, de-a lungul unui paraias. Pe acest drum sunt iarasi cateva pensiuni, plasate foarte pitoresc la baza masivului Podu Calului. Cascada se integreaza perfect in acest peisaj montan armonios, cu natura pura si salbatica, pe care tumultul continuu al apei ce cade de la 10 m inaltime o completeaza intr-un ritm relaxant si in acelasi timp hipnotic.

Cand mergi prin padure catre cascada, chiar aproape de ea, in partea stanga, este un fel de lacas, un intrand in stanca, asemeni unui adapost, despre care legenda spune ca era ascunzatoarea unui haiduc, fost pandur in oastea lui Tudor Vladimirescu.

Coborand apoi spre Buzau, se afla alta atractie a regiunii, Trovantii sau Babele de la Ulmet, unde se ajunge prin satul Bozioru. Aici eroziunea naturala a ploii, vantului si soarelui asupra stancilor a dat nastere unor structuri de peste 2 metri, care par desprinse din filmele sci-fi, deoarece unele arata ca niste mini-OZN-uri pietrificate. Da, sunt ca niste mici nave spatiale abandonate pe-o culme de munte, in padure.

Din punct de vedere geologic, trovantul este o porțiune elipsoidală dintr-un strat de nisip sau al unei gresii friabile, cimentată de apele calcaroase. Tendința lui este de creștere spontană, din centru spre exterior, cu o rată de depunere de 4-5 cm la o mie de ani. Rezulta niste agregate minerale elipsoidale, discoidale sau cilindrice cu structură masivă, concentrică sau plană, având dimensiuni de la câțiva milimetri la câțiva metri. De fapt, trovantii au acelasi mod de formare ca perlele, totul porneste de la un bob de nisip, care continua sa creasca. Odată dezgropați din nisip, creșterea încetează.

Legenda din sat spune ca trovantii, denumiti in folclor “pietrele vii”, au puteri energetice miraculoase, care alunga supararea si te inveselesc, trebuie doar sa ii atingi 😉

Indiferent ca trovantii au cazut din cer sau au iesit din nisip, peisajul pamantean ce se infatiseaza privitorului e spectaculos, iar panorama deschisa inspre vale si marginita de munti este de o frumusete coplesitoare, strabatuta doar de suieratul lin al vantului.

English translated text

Siriu Lake, considered one of the most beautiful places in Romania, is 11.5 km long and is guarded by the dam with the same name, built on Buzau River. The trees surrounding the lake, the serpentine viaducts and the maximum height of the dam of 122 meters, create a spectacular landscape, materialized in an irresistible tourist destination and at the same time, very quiet. The water of Lake Siriu is an intense emerald green, almost unreal, regarding the ridges of mountains and firs, and at sunset it becomes a huge, magical mirror, mixing the colors of the sun, clouds and blue sky. Reality is even more than this short poem of attributes, when you get there, you will see I am right.

From Bucharest it is reached in about two and a half hours, and in terms of accommodation, there are some guesthouses in the area, located right on the lake, where you can drink your morning coffee surrounded by a splendid landscape – u know, coffee with a view stuff from Instagram – but you can also take boat trips on the lake, rafting, hiking in the woods, step or 4×4 into the forest and various tourist routes, so a 3-4 days stay in the region is perfect.

Near the lake Siriu is the mini-resort of Baile Siriu. The respective baths have three sources of ferrous mineral waters, thermal, slightly bicarbonate, chlorurosodic, sulfurous and very poorly mineralized.

One of the major attractions in the area is Casoca Waterfall (Pruncea), located 5 km from Siriu Lake, where it is reached from Casoca village, on a side road, 4 km, through forest, along a paradise. On this road there are several pensions, very picturesque at the base of the Podu Calului massif. The waterfall integrates perfectly into this harmonious mountain landscape, with its pure and wild nature, which the continuous tumbling of the water falling from 10 m high completes it in a relaxing and at the same time hypnotic way.

When you go through the forest towards the waterfall, just near it, on the left side, there is a rocky entrance, like a shelter, about which the legend says that it was a hiding place for one of brave men of Wallachian revolutionary hero army Tudor Vladimirescu.

Then going down to Buzau, there is another attraction of the region, Trovantii or Babele from Ulmet, where you can reach through the village of Bozioru. Here the natural erosion of rain, wind and sun on the rocks has given rise to structures over 2 meters, which seem detached from sci-fi films, as some look like petrified mini-UFOs. Yes, they are like little spaceships abandoned on a mountain peak in the forest.

Geologically, the trovant is an ellipsoidal portion of a layer of sand or friable sandstone, cemented by limestone waters. Its tendency is spontaneous growth, from the center to the outside, with a deposition rate of 4-5 cm per thousand years. The result is mineral aggregates ellipsoidal, discoidal or cylindrical forms with a massive, concentric or flat structure, having dimensions from a few millimeters to a few meters. In fact, trovants have the same form of growing as pearls; everything starts from a grain of sand, which continues to grow. Once you dig out of the sand, growth stops.

The legend in the village says that the trovants, called in the folklore the “living stones”, have miraculous energetic powers, which elicit the anger and cheer you, you just have to touch them 😉

Irrespective of whether the trovants have fallen from the sky or come out of the sand, the earthly landscape that is presented to the viewer is spectacular, and the panorama opened towards the valley with the border of the mountains is an overwhelming beauty, crossed only by the gentle wind.

 

Photo credits: personal archive Ruxandra Chiurtu