Geological complex of Racos - a place in the center of Romania containing the last active volcano in Romania, basalt rocks, lake and wild area around.
Till '60 the place was used to get basalt rocks but then the place was declared monument of nature and now is a place visited for it's beauty and diversity.
Enjoy my trip there, my first visit that happened in a sunny and hot Summer day.
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/88159f196725415.6624fc6819bd9.jpg)
Basalt columns dated back 1.3 - 1.4 millions of years ago at the first eruption of Racos volcano. Around 8-10 meters high of basalt surrounded by vegetation
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/6189aa196725415.662507d838ae4.jpg)
Basalt - an extrusive igneous rock made from the rapid cooling of lava at Earth's Surface. Basalt is composed of minerals including plagioclase feldspar, olivine, pyroxene, quartz, hornblende, and biotite.
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/5595e5196725415.662507d836601.jpg)
A final view from a different angle to spectacular basaltic columns, time to move on to next places around ...
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/d8da7d196725415.662507d83ad99.jpg)
Next place on the list: Smarald Lake. The name comes from the water color of the lake that varies with the Sun light, ranging from bright blue-green to dark blue.The maximum deep is around 18 meters and is mostly filled from snow and underground springs.
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/d101a2196725415.662507d8350f1.jpg)
One side of the Smarald Lake, no Sun this time
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/296235196725415.662507d83a6a1.jpg)
Basalt rocks around the lake, nice mix of rocks, water and vegetation
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/c971a7196725415.662507d839039.jpg)
Our brave dog, Amur, joining us in this trip as well
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/977fed196725415.662507d836f00.jpg)
We leave behind the Smarald Lake and we hike for some kilometers towards the last and main place: the Racos Volcano, the last active volcano in Romania. Now we are literately inside the volcano crater.. a place of fire and lava till 10.000 years ago.
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/e9d059196725415.662507d8382b7.jpg)
The land has a red color and frequent burned marks. Vegetation reclaim back the place covering wounded and burned soil
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/863d24196725415.662507d834b69.jpg)
Still in the crater ...
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/c87e64196725415.662507d839fac.jpg)
Side wall of the crater. Incredible place to be.
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/997367196725415.662507d835dac.jpg)
A shot from ground level, lucky to get a dramatic sky matching the dramatic colors on the ground, marks of lava and ash
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/dd878d196725415.662507d837533.jpg)
A small tree with an electric green color shining in the crater
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/63cbd3196725415.662507d8358c3.jpg)
Burned walls of the crater with ash all around
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/2a510a196725415.662507d8398c6.jpg)
A volcanic bomb, burned big pieces of lava and rocks found scattered inside the crater
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/37ff52196725415.662507d8342ba.jpg)
A taller crater wall with scattered rocks
![Outdoor volcano romania Nature Travel lake panasonic sigma](https://mir-s3-cdn-cf.behance.net/project_modules/1400/b255bf196725415.662507d837d3b.jpg)
A lot of flowers in the area, just one picture to mark this statement. Onobrychis viciifolia