Tale summary
The story of the three Criș brothers depicts the events behind the formation of three Romanian rivers, Crișul Alb, Crișul Negru and Crișul Repede. It is said that the three rivers were once three brothers, all skilled hunters. While returning from a hunt, they encountered a girl at a fountain, and all three of them fell for her. Deciding to find out which of them was to be her husband, they return after some time to ask her, only to discover that the village had been destroyed by three giants who had come to steal, kill and live there. With the help of three enchanted axes, they overpower the giants, allowing thus the villagers to return to their lands, but the price of retrieving the stolen goods was them metamorphosing into the three rivers.