Wild Lake is one of the biggest mysteries in Slovenia

Only five minutes from the city center of Idrija, the cradle of bobbin lacemaking, following the Idrijica River and the road towards Idrijska Bela, you will come across the first Slovenian natural museum, also known as the Wild Lake ( slo. Divje jezero). 

Situated below 100-meter steep rocks, Wild Lake lies on a stone cauldron.

Wild lake, Photo: Mitja Podreka, CC BY-SA 4.0

Protected as a natural monument and considered a vital component of Slovenian natural heritage, Wild Lake is undoubtedly one of the most significant phenomena in the country. It is a type of karst siphon lake, also known as the Vokli spring, where water flows to the surface from depths under pressure.

As a result of this high pressure, the Jezernica River was created. A river that currently holds the title of the shortest river in Slovenia and one of the shortest in Europe. It flows from Wild Lake for exactly 55 meters before joining the river Idrijaca.

 

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The lake conceals several fascinating aspects. Firstly, its temperature remains consistently between 9.5° to 10°C throughout most of the year, in summer it can reach up to 17°C. Secondly, despite its name suggesting otherwise, it is generally a calm lake unless it rains heavily.

 

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The lake is around 65 meters long and 30 meters wide, and while the exact depth remains unknown, explorations have reached approximately 160 meters. Within this depth, the lake hosts brown trout, various small underground animals, and the famous Olm.

Around the Wild lake, researchers have identified as many as 150 species of plants, among which the most significant is the Slovenian endemic, Carniolan primrose.

If you wish to visit the lake, you must know that is easily accessible. There is a parking lot along the road where you can stop and walk through a short forest path to enjoy its magnificent beauty. Many locals come by to enjoy this natural monument. Some even dare to dive into it!