Mountain reflections
Still morning water mirrors the slopes around it.
Nick Savchenko from Kiev, Ukraine — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Nick Savchenko from Kiev, Ukraine — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Dreamy Pixel — CC BY 4.0 · Dreamy Pixel — CC BY 4.0 · Aleš Krivec — CC0
Lake Bohinj is the largest permanent lake in Slovenia, spreading over 318 hectares in a valley of the Julian Alps inside Triglav National Park. It runs 4.2 km from end to end and reaches 1 km at its widest, with tall wooded slopes rising on both sides. The lake is glacial in origin and held in place by a moraine. Its main feeder is the Savica, which comes down from Črno jezero, the Black Lake, in the Triglav Lakes Valley, while the outflow leaves at the eastern end. In the 18th century the naturalist Belsazar Hacquet noted that far more water leaves the lake than enters it, a difference explained by springs below the surface. What stays with you is the clear water and the mountains mirrored in it on a still morning, along with the bright boats moored at the eastern shore, where the Church of St John the Baptist stands by the bridge. Also on the shore is a statue of Goldhorn, the legendary chamois whose tale the poet Rudolf Baumbach made famous, a story best enjoyed as local folklore. People come to swim, paddle and walk the banks. The lake lies about 21.7 km from Bled and 55.8 km from Ljubljana in a straight line, and the roads are longer. The water stays cool even in summer, so pack a warm layer for afterwards. Dress modestly and keep your voice down if you step into the church. Savica Waterfall, higher up the valley, makes a natural add-on.
Still morning water mirrors the slopes around it.
Bright boats and an old church beside the bridge.
A legendary chamois from the valley's folklore.
Bohinj Valley, Triglav National Park, Slovenia
Yes, people swim here in summer, though the water stays cool even in the warmer months.
It lies about 21.7 km from Bled in a straight line, and many visitors combine the two in a day.