Lake Herăstrău is an anthropic lake located in the northern part of the city of Bucharest, developed on the Colentina River, in the area where it flows through the urban area of the city, situated between Lake Băneasa upstream and Lake Floreasca downstream. It is the biggest lake in Bucharest.[1]

Lake Herăstrău
Lacul Herăstrău
View on the lake with House of the Free Press
Lake Herăstrău Lacul Herăstrău is located in Bucharest, Romania
Lake Herăstrău Lacul Herăstrău
Lake Herăstrău
Lacul Herăstrău
LocationSector 1, Bucharest
Coordinates44°28′31″N 26°04′55″E / 44.47532°N 26.08207°E / 44.47532; 26.08207
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsColentina River
Primary outflowsColentina River
Basin countriesRomania
Max. length3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Max. width500 m (1,600 ft)
Surface area74 ha (180 acres)
Max. depth5 m (16 ft)
Water volume15,000,000 m3 (12,000 acre⋅ft)

The length of the lake's shores is 7,400 meters, and the length of the islands on the lake is 1,600 meters. The normal retention level is 79.50 meters, with a surface area at NNR of 77 hectares. The length of the lake is 3.50 kilometers, and it has a water volume of approximately 1.5 million cubic meters. The lake is surrounded by King Michael I Park.[2]

Etymology

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The name of Herăstrău comes from the popular form of the word ferăstrău, which means saw in Romanian. Near the lake, which was acquired by Șerban-Vodă Cantacuzino, there was a sawmill powered by the waters of the Colentina River. This sawmill proved to be profitable for the estate by providing wood for construction in the capital city.

Lock

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Lock between Lake Herăstrău and Lake Floreasca

The Herăstrău Lake Lock (Ecluza Lacului Herăstrău) was constructed between 1933 and 1936, replacing an old dam that had served a sawmill in the area.

This lock is located on the left bank of Lake Herăstrău and connects it to Lake Floreasca. Besides its recreational function, allowing boat travel between Lake Herăstrău and Lake Floreasca, the lock also serves as an additional drainage system for Lake Herăstrău into Lake Floreasca. This is particularly important during heavy rains when there is a risk of excessive water level rise in Lake Herăstrău, which could potentially pose a threat to areas in Bucharest.[3]

The construction of the lock and its dual purpose, both for navigation and flood control, plays a significant role in the management of the water levels in this region.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Cum a apărut Lacul Herăstrău, cel mai cunoscut lac din București?". shtiu.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Shores of Bucharest's Herăstrău Lake to undergo first rehabilitation works in almost 60 years". Romania-Insider (in Romanian). Retrieved 5 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Ecluza Herăstrău a fost deschisă". Mediafax.ro (in Romanian).
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