An unforgettable green experience.
You will find the Zelenci lake just after the village of Podkoren on the south side of the main road. Zelenci is the second source of the Sava Dolinka, the first one is located near Tamar – the Nadiža waterfall. They lie on the northern edge of the Triglav National Park, flanked to the south by the forested Vitranc and to the north by the equally forested Karavanke Mountains. The swamp with the Drni marsh is about 1,200 meters long, 150 meters wide on average, about 200 meters in the widest part, and about twenty in the narrowest part.
In the extreme western part of the swamp is an emerald green lake, from which extremely clean and cold springs boil trough a layer of lake chalk, which gives the water its characteristic blue-green color. Due to its color, the lake with the swamp was named Zelenci.
Zelenci do not freeze in winter, their constant temperature throughout the year is about 6 ° C. In 1992, Zelenci and its surroundings were declared a nature reserve by a decree of the municipality of Jesenice. The Zelenci Nature Reserve with the source of the Sava Dolinka River and the Drni Marshes is classified as a Natura 2000 site due to its natural features.
A well-maintained forest trail leads to Zelenci, making it an easily accessible attraction that is also suitable for family visits. A special wooden footbridge leads you to the lake and the swampy surroundings without damaging nature. There is an observation tower next to the lake, which offers a view of the emerald green lake from a higher perspective, while at the same time offering a view of Ponce Mountains.
ZELENCI IN ALL SEASONS
Zelenci are a delight in all seasons. In spring, the surroundings of Zelenci are ideal for quiet walks, watching the first flowers and listening to the birds singing. The water is particularly clean at this time of year. Summer is the time when the emerald green colour of the lake is at its best, and the surrounding area provides you with a pleasant shelter from the heat. In autumn, Zelenci will enchant you with their varied colour palette, enjoying yellow, orange and red tones. During the winter months, Zelenci will surprise you in particular. The water in Zelenci never freezes and the peaks in the background turn white with snow, creating a beautiful backdrop.
INTERESTING FACT: In 1819, 1827 and 1828, the English scientist Sir Humphry Davy visited Zelenci. He was so impressed by them that he wrote: “There is nothing more beautiful in Europe than this,”
