Văcărești Nature Park
Văcărești Nature Park (Romanian: Parcul Natural Văcărești) is a nature park in Bucharest, Romania, containing the wetlands surrounding Lake Văcărești.
History
Having 190 hectares,[1] the area where the park stands was part of a large swampy area on the outskirts of Bucharest.[2] To its west was the area known as the "valley of weeping" that was the rubbish dump of interbellum Bucharest.[2]
Much of the swampy area surrounding the park was drained by Socialist Romania, building a neighbourhood of apartment blocks, while the "valley of weeping" became Tineretului Park.[2]
President Nicolae Ceaușescu wanted to build a reservoir which was supposed to be filled from the Argeș River via the Mihăilești Lake.[2] As such, a concrete dam was built to surround the lake.[2] The few modest houses located in this area were bought by the state and demolished.[3]
In 2003, the Ministry of the Environment concessioned the area for 49 years to Royal Romanian Corporation for a $6 million.[4] The company was supposed to invest over a billion dollars in a sports-culture complex, however it did not honor its part of the contract.[4]
On June 5, 2014, the Lake Văcărești zone was declared protected zone and named Văcărești Nature Park by the Government of Romania.[5]
Notes
References
- Cristian Lascu, "Delta dintre blocuri", National Geographic România n. 109, May 2012, p. 30-52
- Justinien Tribillon, "How nature turned a failed communist plan into Bucharest's unique urban park", The Guardian 14 June 2016
Coordinates: 44°23′59″N 26°08′03″E / 44.3996°N 26.1342°E