User:Sothebys/sandbox

The Fizes Valley and the adjacent tributaries, stretch over 460 kilometers in Cluj county in Transilvania ( an historic Principality, once independent, which is currently within the North West of Romania). Compared by Locals to the Danube Delta in the south of the country, because of it's abundance of reeds and bullrushes, hence the local description “Transylvania’s Inland Delta” Because of it's many lakes in seventeen seperate wetlands, it is commonly referred to by British ex-pats as "The Transilvanian Lake District".

The District includes nearly two dozen traditional farming villages and is currently under the joint administration of two NGO's - Eco Transilvania and Ecochoice - under the terms of a five-year contract with the Romanian Ministry of the Environment.

The European Union Birds Directive has designated this 37 kilometer long District as a "Natura 2000 Special Protection Area". While the Habitats Directive has designated it a "Site of Community Interest".

Representatives of over 28% of Europe's birds breed here, comprising One hundred and forty-six species, they enjoy an environment including 670 types of plant and share it with many species of bats, insect and amphibians.

Lake Sacalaia "Pike Lake " is famous for  large specimen pike (and perch) regularly caught there by local anglers who are required to use boats, to preserve the bank. and reeds, this lake is deep allover going down to eighteen meters in places.

This lake is unique in the area in that for a few day every autumn, when the temperature of the water drops suddenly, many huge fish in the lake come to the surface, leaping into the air and gasping to breathe ,while a strong sulphurous odour hangs in the air around