Bohinjsko jezero, an alpine lake basin in Bohinj
Published on 08/27/2026 at 22:32 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Bohinjsko jezero, known in English as Lake Bohinj, is a long glacial lake filling the floor of the Bohinj valley in north?western Slovenia. It lies within the Julian Alps and forms part of Triglav National Park, giving the waterline a protected, strongly alpine setting that shapes almost every view around the shore.Lake Bohinj
An elongated glacial lake in the Julian Alps
The defining feature of Bohinjsko jezero is its elongated basin, aligned broadly east–west and framed by steep forested slopes and higher rocky summits above them. The lake occupies a glacially carved depression, with clear water filling a trough left by the movement of ice rather than by river erosion.glacially formed lake basin It is recognised as the largest natural permanent lake in Slovenia, covering about 3.18 km², or 318 hectares, with a substantial water volume held between its underwater slopes.largest natural permanent lake in Slovenia
The surface of Bohinjsko jezero lies at roughly 525–526 m (about 1,722–1,726 ft) above sea level, high enough for an alpine atmosphere without entering high?mountain extremes.water level altitude 526 m In length the lake runs for about 4.1 km (2.5 miles), while its maximum width is around 1.2 km (0.7 miles), giving it a distinctive, long and relatively narrow outline.4.1 km long and 1.2 km wide The maximum depth reaches about 45 m (148 ft), and a large part of the basin is deeper than 20 m, so much of the water mass sits in a cool, steep?sided hollow.
Water, inflows and the protected alpine setting
Bohinjsko jezero lies entirely within Triglav National Park, Slovenia’s only national park, which was formally established in its present extent in 1981.incorporated into Triglav National Park in 1981 The lake belongs to the municipality of Bohinj in the Upper Carniola region, and the valley around it stretches for roughly 20 km as a broader basin within the Julian Alps.Bohinj basin in the Julian Alps Mountains up to around 2,000 m rise above the shore, enclosing the water on several sides and reinforcing the sense of a self?contained lake basin.
Hydrologically, Bohinjsko jezero is fed mainly by the Savica River, which enters the western part of the basin after flowing over moraines and boulders near Ukanc.Savica as main inflow Several karst springs at the foot of Mount Komar?a add further inflows, while the outflow forms the Sava Bohinjka, a river that continues towards central Slovenia.single outflow as Sava Bohinjka The total water quantity in the lake is around 92.5 million cubic metres, and the residence time of the water has been measured at about four months, meaning the entire volume is renewed several times a year.volume and residence time
Bohinjsko jezero as a landscape to explore
The shoreline of Bohinjsko jezero runs for just over 11 km, varying between narrow strips of lake edge and slightly broader areas where meadows, villages or small piers reach the water.length of the lake shore 11.35 km At the south?eastern corner stands the church of St John the Baptist, a recognisable landmark beside a stone bridge, forming one of the most widely used views of the lake and linking the water with long?standing settlement in the Bohinj valley.church of St John the Baptist
Bohinjsko jezero is reached along the Bohinj valley by road from the direction of Bled and Ljubljana, with Rib?ev Laz and Ukanc among the villages along its shores.in the Bohinj Valley in north-western Slovenia The setting lends itself to walking along sections of the lakeside, viewing the long waterline against the backdrop of the Julian Alps, and seeing how the clear water, forested slopes and scattered settlements form a single landscape unit within Triglav National Park.purest glacial lake setting
Visiting Bohinjsko jezero: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Bohinjsko jezero lies in the municipality of Bohinj in north?western Slovenia, and is reached along the Bohinj valley by road from the direction of Bled and Ljubljana.
- The lakeshore alternates between flat meadows, pebbly edges and short slopes, and some sections involve walking on uneven ground close to the water.
- The lake is surrounded by the Julian Alps within Triglav National Park, so paths and access points sit at around 525 m (1,722 ft) above sea level.
- The official language is Slovene and the currency is the euro.
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Frequently asked questions about Bohinjsko jezero
Where is Bohinjsko jezero?
Bohinjsko jezero is in the municipality of Bohinj in north?western Slovenia, within the Bohinj valley in the Julian Alps and inside Triglav National Park.
What should visitors expect at the lake?
Visitors encounter a long glacial lake with clear water, forested mountain slopes above the shore, small villages such as Rib?ev Laz and Ukanc, and paths along parts of the shoreline.
What makes Bohinjsko jezero distinctive compared with other lakes?
Bohinjsko jezero combines its status as Slovenia’s largest natural permanent lake with a protected location in Triglav National Park and an elongated basin framed closely by the Julian Alps.
