At Lake Bohinj -- the largest lake in Slovenia

 “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.”

-- Sandra Lake
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(in a mysterious and eccentric region of Slovenia) Located in the heart of the Julian Alps, Bohinj (which is unique, beautiful, and charming in every way) encompasses the lush Nomenj valley, the Pokljuka and Jelovica plateaus. and the Upper and Lower Bohinj valleys. It is also home to the largest lake in Slovenia -- Lake Bohinj.

+ In the Upper Carniola region of northwestern Slovenia, the Bohinj Basin is a 20 km (12.5 mi.) long and five kilometer wide basin in the Julian Alps. It is traversed by the Sava Bohinjka river. Its main feature is the periglacial Lake Bohinj. (Bohinj is part of the Municipality of Bohinj, the seat of which is Bohinjska Bistrica.) The basin consists of four geographic units: the Lower Valley, Upper Valley, Ukanc Basin (or Lake Basin), and Nomenj Basin. It is bounded by the Komarča head wall on one end and Soteska Canyon at the other. The Lower Bohinj Mountain Range represents its southern border. The Sava River has carved a canyon between the Jelovica and Pokljuka plateaus in the east. To the north, Mount Triglav, Slovenia's highest mountain, is also a part of the municipality.

+ The Sava Bohinjka (which merges with the Sava Dolinka into the Sava) begins when two rivers, the Jezernica and the Mostnica, merge. The Mostnica comes from the Voje Valley, whereas the Jezernica is a very short river that flows from Lake Bohinj. Many smaller streams flow into the lake. The largest of them, the Savica, emerges in Komarča as a large waterfall. Savica Falls gets most of its water from Black Lake, which is the largest in the Triglav Lakes Valley.

+ With hypnotic blue-green waters, breathtaking mountain panoramas, and a range of outdoor activities, Slovenia’s Lake Bohinj is a great summer holiday destination. Several small hamlets surround the lake, which is within the Triglav National Park. A string of rustic villages branch out to the lake’s northeast, while Ribčev Laz, on the lake’s eastern shore, is home to several hotels and the main tourist information center.

+ Lake Bohinj forms its own culinary micro-region and is well known for the quality of its locally made sausages, buckwheat groats (a popular side dish) and especially its lake trout, which (when cooked) takes on a texture and pinkish color that many people confuse for salmon. The lake also lies at the center of a vibrant cheese-making region. The area’s signature “Bohinj cheese,” made from cow’s milk, has a medium-hard texture and nutty taste that resembles Swiss Emmentaler. The Alpine Dairy Farming Museum in Stara Fužina shows off the region’s long history of cheese-making.

+ Ride the Vogel cable car up to 1,535 meters for a stunning view of the surrounding peaks and the lake below, and catch a glimpse of the dramatic Savica Waterfall. However, be sure to make time for some more active pursuits as well -- Bohinj is at its best when you are boating, biking, hiking, or skiing.