Information
Landmark: Wild LakeCity: Idrija
Country: Slovenia
Continent: Europe
Wild Lake, Idrija, Slovenia, Europe
Overview
Wild Lake (Slovene: Divje jezero) is a small karst lake near Idrija, Slovenia, its clear water swirling in deep shades of green.The lake, with its strange rock formations and shadowy depths, draws visitors in with quiet beauty and the intrigue of its hidden waters.It’s part of the Idrija UNESCO Global Geopark, valued for its culture, rich ecology, and scientific importance-like the ancient rock layers you can see along its winding trails.Just three kilometers from Idrija on the road to Črni Vrh, Wild Lake lies tucked beneath a towering limestone cliff, its emerald surface ringed by ferns, moss, and dense green undergrowth.Though it’s Slovenia’s smallest lake-only a few dozen square meters across-its water surges from a hidden karst spring, spilling into a short, clear stream that joins the Idrijca River.The spring swells after rain or snowmelt, sometimes sending a foaming overflow down a small waterfall.Divers have descended more than 160 meters without finding the bottom, a mystery that’s given rise to legends of an “unfathomable abyss.” Protected as a natural monument, the lake shelters rare plants, the pale cave-dwelling olm, and forest birds, while offering scientists a window into the workings of the underground karst world.Researchers still explore its hidden depths and striking karst formations to unlock the secrets of Slovenia’s geology, while its place in the Idrija Geopark ties it to treasures like the Mercury Mine and the old stone walls of Gewerkenegg Castle.With its quiet hillsides and striking rock formations, it’s the kind of place nature lovers, hikers, and anyone craving Slovenia’s untouched countryside can’t resist visiting.As part of the Idrija Geopark, it opens a door to exploring how nature and culture weave together here-like rivers carving through limestone beside centuries-old mining towns.
