The Great Lake

The accumulation lakes (tăuri)are nearly 300 years old. They were built to ensure a sufficient volume and constant flow of water to operate the gold ore grinding facilities (stamp mills). It is believed that in 1733 the construction of these lakes or reservoirs started but from records it's equally possible that this date corresponds to the implementation of various hydraulic projects initiated by state authorities. 

About the construction of Tăului Mare in its current form, we know that it was built before 1779, because in that year, based on a project, the dam was raised to its current height of over 30 m. In 1929, important repairs were carried out, through which the dam buttresses were added to it, and the control tower was made from reinforced concrete. In 2022, a degradation of the dam caused by the lack of periodic maintenance, led to the adoption of temporary measures to lower the water level, until a project will be implemented to consolidate and restore this monument. Let's hope that these works will be put into operation as soon as possible, and the Taul Mare will regain its characteristic heart shape.

Out of the over 100 such accumulation lakes arranged between the hills and mountain ridges around Roșia Montană, some still exist today, with the largest ones equipped with sophisticated mechanisms – crane systems – for flow control. Initially built from wood, the control mechanisms were gradually replaced with metal cranes operated from a built tower located within such a lake. The reservoirs were held by a dam with water discharge mechanisms. The water discharge outlets constitute remarkable works of technical architecture. Behind the dam, a series of springs and waters from the surrounding hills are collected. At the base of this stone dam lies a tunnel connected to a control tower located in the lake. In some lakes like Brazi Lake, this tower no longer exists, but it can be observed in old photographs on our website. Well, here was the water flow control system that started from the lake along the streams and reached the stamp mills or gold processing facilities which were very noisy when in operation.

Water was a precious resource in Rosia Montana, crucial for powering gold processing facilities like stamp mills. Reservoirs were carefully managed, and conflicts could arise among owners if water was scarce. A Reservoir Administration oversaw maintenance and distribution, with periodic draining and cleaning events. Stamp mills, essential for gold extraction, were managed by mine owners, but all were destroyed during Nationalization. These mills used massive wooden arrows with stone heads to crush the ore. The crushed ore greatly facilitated the gold extraction processes. Explore more about these techniques at the "Rosia Montana’s stamp mills" site along the village road.

The most important water reservoirs of that period were Tăul Mare, Tăul Țarina, Tăul Brazi, and Tăul Corna, each having a specific number of watermills wheels in operation. They are spectacular constructions, true technical monuments built in the 18th century, with underground water tunnels and small houses regulating the water flow. Although less visible today, the access portals to the water discharge tunnels  at the base of the reservoirs often bore mining insignia. Tăul Corna, Țarina, and Tărul Mare preserve such decorations. The decoration that was part of the Brazi Lake is preserved at the Mining Museum in Roșia Montană.

You have listened to the content dedicated to Rosia Montana’s Great Lake or Taul Mare.

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.