Wild Lake (Divje Jezero)

Q: How can I reach Wild Lake from Idrija?

You can reach the lake via the well-marked nature trail called “Pot ob Rakah,” which is approximately 2.5 kilometers long. The trail winds through scenic landscapes and is accessible for families, including those with strollers.

Q: What should I expect regarding the water levels at Wild Lake?

The lake is fed by an underground Vaucluse spring, causing the water level to rise by up to three meters after heavy rains. While the surface is usually calm, these fluctuations contribute to the lake's ever-changing character and dramatic bubbling effects.

Q: What activities are available for visitors at Wild Lake?

Visitors can stroll around the lake's perimeter, enjoy a picnic, or take in the clear emerald waters and surrounding forest. The site is also protected as a natural monument and Slovenia’s first outdoor museum, offering a peaceful experience in the karst landscape.

Q: Is Wild Lake connected to any other geographical features?

Yes, Wild Lake is the source of the Jezernica River, which is noted as Slovenia’s shortest river at just 55 meters long. It is also connected to a complex system of submerged caves that extend deep beneath the surface.

Q: Is the trail to the lake suitable for families with strollers?

Yes, the trail leading to the lake is described as accessible for families, including those with strollers. The path is well-marked and takes roughly 1.5 hours to complete at a leisurely pace.

Karstic lake with deepest explored cave system

#9 of 12 in Idrija

Where: Idrija, Notranjska
Directions: Directions

Divje Jezero, the Wild Lake, lies in a narrow valley a couple of kilometres from Idrija, and it is one of the most unusual lakes in Slovenia. It is small, deep and an intense blue-green, fed by a karst spring that rises from under a rock wall, and in the quiet of the valley it looks calm. The calm is deceptive, because the lake is the opening of a large underground water system, and after heavy rain the water level can rise dramatically and the surface may boil as the pressure from below increases. This type of spring is called a vaucluse spring, after the famous spring in France, and it is the reason for the name Wild Lake.

The lake's depths have drawn explorers. Cave divers have gone down into the flooded passages beyond the lake, and the system is among the deepest explored underwater caves in Slovenia, with dives reaching well beyond 150 metres. Much of it remains unknown, which adds to its mystery. The lake is protected as a natural monument, and it has been a destination for walkers for many decades. The water that rises here travels underground from the karst plateau above and emerges as the Jezernica, a river that is only about fifty-five metres long before it joins the Idrijca, and is reputed to be one of the shortest rivers in Europe.

The approach is part of the pleasure. A marked path called Pot ob Rakah follows the Rake, a historic channel built to carry water and timber for the mine, and leads from Idrija to the lake through a wooded valley. The walk takes about an hour and a half at an easy pace, and it is suitable for families, with a mostly level surface. Along the way, information boards describe the geology, the history of the channels and the plants and animals of the valley. At the lake, paths run around the shore, and benches and picnic spots allow time to sit and watch the water.

Wild Lake is an essential part of any visit to Idrija. The town's mercury mine, the Anthony Mine Shaft and the Gewerkenegg Castle, with the Municipal Museum of Idrija, explain the historic side, while the Idrija Geopark Visitors' Centre provides the geological background, and the Zgornja Idrijca Nature Park offers further walks. The Feldban hiking trail links the town with the surrounding hills. In spring and autumn, the water colour is deepest and the valley is quiet.