| Wild Lake - Museum in Nature |
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The Wild Lake belongs to the jewels of Slovenian natural heritage. For that reason the lake was protected as a natural monument in 1967, whereas from 1972 on, it has been open for public visits as the first Slovenian museum in nature.; "Divje jezero") Since
the majority of Slovenian lakes are of glacial origin, it proves all
the more exciting to pay a visit to the mysterious karst Wild Lake near
Idrija, which has been designated a museum in nature and is located
only 2 km south of the city. It lies hidden below the perpendicular 100
meters high walls of the plateau Črnovrška planota. The Wild Lake is connected to the mysterious realm of underground steams and for this reason its temperature during the entire year ranges as low as between 7 and 10 degrees Celsius. The water flows into the Wild Lake from an immersed, steeply descending subterranean passage, which stretches to unknown and still unexplored depths. Until 1981, divers investigated the siphon to a length of 200 meters and to depth of 83 meters. In 1995, the utmost limit of autonomous, classical diving and exploring was reached when they swam along 300 meters of the submerged watery passage to a depth of 112 meters. In recent years, the insidious and somber siphon has unfortunately claimed some fatal casualties. The greatest depth reached by means of 420 meters of uncoiled rope has amounted to 160 meters. The lake’s surface may seem of modest dimensions, yet it is in its depths where visitors may encounter some thrilling surprises, and its environs are also fascinating. Jezernica, the shortest overland river in Slovenija, which already after 55 meters flows into the Idrijca river, undergoes some incredible transformations in its brief course. In periods of drought it almost dries up, whereas during prolonged rainfall, its massively increased flow rate would surpass even the Idrijca itself. Some years ago it was presumed that the lake collects groundwater from vast areas of the Črnovrška planota and karst regions below Javornik. At present, it has been proven that the total discharge area of the Wild Lake and nearby springs at Podroteja covers approximately 125 km2. ; "Divje jezero") The lake and its close vicinity boast an exceptional richness of flora and fauna. The lake is home to brook trout, while its cavernous
parts provide habitat for numerous tiny subterranean creatures, even
for famous, uniquely Slovenian “android fish”, Proteus anguinius. Living conditions in the lake’s proximity enabled the growth of countless alpine plants, which have managed to servive in cooler, shady places, even after the period of the Ice Age. The rocky crevices and small shelves are home to Carniolan primrose Primula Carniolica, which is endemic to Slovenia, and was officially named more than 200 years ago. Its exquisite violet blooms open up in the second half of April. Scopolia carniolica was named after J. A. Scopoli, a botanist and Idrija’s first doctor, and one should also mention Hacquetia epipactis, named after the naturalist and Idrijan surgeon, B. Hacquet. Researchers have ascertained that in the area of the Wild Lake there flourish some 150 species of pteridophytes (ferns) and seed bearing plants, so it is not surprising that since antiquity this corner has attracted scores of eminent domestic and foreign botanists. |