Lake Cerknica

About this place

Lake Cerknica is an intermittent lake filling the southern part of a karst basin in Inner Carniola, in southwestern Slovenia. When full it is the largest lake in the country, usually covering around 28 square kilometres and sometimes as much as 38, yet in other seasons it can vanish completely. Its water connects through numerous openings with reservoirs and caverns underground. In dry summers the lake drains into the spaces below and grass soon covers its bed, then autumn rains fill the higher reservoirs and the water returns quickly. The cycle is irregular: the lake may not disappear for years, and it stayed dry for more than a year in 1834 and 1835. The Greek geographer Strabo mentioned a marsh called Lougeon, identified with this place. Depending on when you come, you find still blue water mirroring Mount Slivnica (1,022 m) or a wide meadow, with reed beds, small bridges and tracks crossing the channels. It is an important nesting area for birds, protected within Natura 2000 and the Inner Carniola Regional Park. The lake lies about 34.4 km from Ljubljana and 5.2 km from Rakov Škocjan in a straight line. Dirt roads around it can flood after rain, so check before setting off on them. Bring binoculars if you enjoy birds, and keep to the tracks in nesting season.