Bicazului

Bicazului refers to the geographic region surrounding the Bicaz River in eastern Romania, an area that spans parts of Harghita and Neamț counties. The name is used in several toponyms, most notably the Bicaz Gorge (Cheile Bicazului), and it is associated with nearby lake and protected areas.

Cheile Bicazului is a limestone canyon carved by the Bicaz River in the Eastern Carpathians. The gorge features steep vertical cliffs and rugged karstic terrain, forming a dramatic landscape that has long served as a natural corridor linking the Moldavian and Transylvanian regions. It is a popular site for sightseeing, hiking, and rock climbing, with several viewpoints along the road that traverses the gorge.

Near the gorge lies the Red Lake (Lacul Roșu), created in 1837 by a landslide that dammed the river and formed a large alpine lake. The area around Bicazului is protected as part of the Cheile Bicazului-Hasmas Natural Park, which conserves the mountainous ecosystem, limestone formations, and local flora and fauna.

Etymology and usage: Bicazului is the genitive form associated with Bicaz and the river; it appears in geographic names such as Cheile Bicazului and Lacul Bicaz, reflecting the central role of Bicaz in the region's geography and history.