Lake Floreasca: the 70-Hectare Lake Between Herăstrău and Tei

A lake between Herăstrău and Tei

Lake Floreasca (Lacul Floreasca) is one of the lakes built on the Colentina River, in the north of Bucharest, in Sector 1. Lake Herăstrău lies upstream, connected to it by a lock, and Lake Tei lies downstream, separated from it by a dam. It covers about 70 hectares and is roughly 3 kilometers long.

How it was built

Work at Floreasca began in 1936, as part of the same 1930s program to develop the Colentina. On the lake’s Wikipedia page, the works of this period are attributed to the Bucharest Municipal Works (Uzinele Comunale București), with engineer Nicolae Caranfil as general manager. The aim was to drain the Colentina marshes, and the lakes were built in their place.

The lake is artificial. Its average depth is about 2 meters and its maximum depth is 5 meters, according to Wikipedia.

The parks on the shore

On the shore are Bordei Park (Parcul Bordei), laid out in 1936 according to Financiarul, and Floreasca Park (Parcul Floreasca), on Strada Mircea Eliade. According to Zilesinopti.ro, Floreasca Park was designed in 1961–1963 on the site of the former “Floreasca pit” (groapa Floreasca), and since 2008 it has been managed by the Bucharest Lakes, Parks and Recreation Administration (ALPAB). In November 2024, Sector 1 City Hall announced, according to Economica.net, that it wants to take over the management of the park in order to modernize it; the proposal had to be approved by the Bucharest General Council.

The 2020 dispute over the lakeshore

On May 18, 2020, the Bucharest Court suspended a building permit issued for a site on the lakeshore, at Strada Moeciu no. 1, as well as the “Inel Median” Zonal Urban Plan (PUZ) in the part concerning the lakeshore, as then Mayor General Nicușor Dan announced. The plaintiffs, four civic organizations, argued that the protective green strip had been reduced from 50 meters to 10 meters in some sections. The ruling was not final at the time of the announcement.

Frequently asked questions

How large is Lake Floreasca?

About 70 hectares, according to Wikipedia.

When was Lake Floreasca built?

Work began in 1936, in the 1930s program to develop the Colentina.

How deep is Lake Floreasca?

The average depth is about 2 meters and the maximum depth is 5 meters, according to Wikipedia. There are eight abandoned lido-style swimming areas (ștranduri) on the shore, according to the same source.