It is separated from the Black Sea coast by a narrow strip of land on which the national road DN39 [ro] (part of European route E87) and the CFR Main Line 800 run, joining the port cities of Constanța and Mangalia.

The legend says that once upon a time a crippled and blind old man named Tekir, riding on the back of his donkey, reached the shore of this lake by mistake.

The old man tried to get out of that smelly mud for hours on end, but his stubborn donkey didn't want to move at all, as if a mysterious force was not letting him out of the lake.

It was with great wonder and joy that the old man realized, when getting out of the lake, that his eyes could see light again, and that his legs, which had stopped working a long time ago, began to obey him.

When they heard of this, many people rushed to the shore of the lake, bathing and putting mud all over their bodies to be cured.