Romania Balea Lake

Balea Lake is a glacial lake located at an altitude of just over 2,000 meters in the Southern Carpathians, right next to the Transfăgărășan Highway at its highest point. The season's first snow arrived in late September, and I had the chance to visit the place a few days later. As happens every year, due to heavy snowfall and a high risk of avalanches, the road will become impassable from late October until May or June, though the lake will remain accessible by cable car.

The attached image is actually a panorama composed of four vertical frames, each with a 13-second exposure; after stitching and editing, I cropped it to a standard size.
The shots were taken a few minutes after sunset—honestly, I would have stayed longer to capture more frames from different angles, but the light faded quite quickly.
Naturally, I used a tripod for these low-light conditions; however, if you visit during the day, a tripod isn't necessary, as the reflection will likely still be visible even with shorter exposures.

Access to Bâlea Lake is directly from the Transfăgărășan Highway; however, parking can be challenging if you arrive during a weekend or at the peak of the tourist season. I would recommend parking wherever you can find a spot nearby and then walking the 200–300 meters to the lake. For instance, in the second half of August—five weeks before the attached photo was taken—I visited the Transfăgărășan, and the crowds were overwhelming; it was nearly impossible to find a parking space within 500 meters of the lake. I believe the best times to visit are early in the morning, around sunrise, or in the evening, once most visitors have left.