Zelengora is a beautiful natural attraction located in Sutjeska National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The mountain is situated at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters above sea level, and offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Zelengora is a popular destination for hikers, climbers, and nature lovers, who come to explore its abundant flora and fauna and enjoy its natural beauty.
In addition to its rich biodiversity, Zelengora is also known for its stunning natural beauty. The mountain is covered in dense forests, rolling meadows, and crystal-clear streams, making it a beautiful and serene environment. But what Zelengora is most known for are her lakes. Zelengora Lakes also known as Mountain Eyes.
Let’s talk more about the Zelengora lakes, this great text about lakes was written by Ljiljana Krejic for Itinari in 2018:
Donje Bare (Lower Pond)
Starting from Tjentište, the core of National Park Sujeska, a 20 km long road will guide you to the first glacial lake – Donje Bare. Located on the northeastern side of Mt. Zelengora and 1500 m above the sea level, this lake is also nestled at the foothill of Mt. Tovarnica and its peak Planinica (1722 m). The lake is only 200 m long, 140 m wide, and with a maximum depth of four meters.
Gornje Bare (Upper Pond)
Around two kilometers on the west from Donje Bare, one can find another glacial lake – Gornje Bare. The lake is snuggled on the slopes of Uglješa peak (1858), but also between the peaks Dobra (1795) and Planinica (1722 m). Situated at 1550 m above the sea level, Gornje Bare Lake has something in common with Gornje Bare – the name and rich marsh flora.
Crno Jezero (Black Lake)
On the northwestern side of Mt. Zelengora, you will find a lake called Crno Jezero. Located at the foothills of Mt. Vrbničke Kolibe, at 1500 m above the sea level, this oval-shaped lake is 180 m long, 70 m large and three meters deep. The reason why people call it Black Lake (crno=black, jezero=lake) lies in the fact that the coast and the bottom of the lake are covered with some black mold, which makes it look dark.
Bijelo Jezero (White Lake)
Less than 500 m on the south of Crno Jezero, another glacial lake waits for all nature lovers to discover it. Bijelo Jezero is situated at the altitude of 1450 m and surrounded by the peaks of Mt. Orlovac and Mt. Trebova. Being a round-shaped lake (400 m in diameter), Bijelo Jezero is far bigger and deeper (4 m) than Crno Jezero. If you wonder why it is called White Lake (bijelo=white, jezero=lake), here is the answer – the bottom of the lake is covered with white rocks and sand.
Kotlaničko Lake
Thanks to the emerald green color of its water, Kotlaničko Lake is considered one of the most beautiful ones in the region of Mt. Zelengora. Hugged by Mt. Dumoš, Mt. Prutač, Mt. Klek and Mt. Zimovača, all between 1783-1879 m above the sea level, this glacial lake lies at the altitude of 1528 m. Slightly bigger and more profound than most of other lakes, it has the length of 480 m and the width of 200 m, while a maximum depth reaches 10 m. On its southern part, this pear-shaped lake sinks into the karst pit and reappears five km towards the south, in the place Pridvorica. Exceptionally rich with Arctic char and other fish, Kotlaničko Lake is also home of an endemic amphibian Triton.
Štirinsko Lake
Being around 600 m long, 350 m wide and located at 1672 m above the sea level, Štirinsko Lake is by far the biggest and the highest of all Zelengora Lakes. At the same time, it is the shallowest lake with only two meters of depth. If you are at Kotlaničko Lake, it will take you around an hour to reach this lake. Even though the lake is surrounded by Mt. Dumoš, Todor (1949 m) and Osredak (1828), you will not have a feeling that you are at such high altitude. Its banks are slightly leaned with some sand and stones, while the surface of the lake is covered with watergrass. Besides some wild ducks, here you will also find an Arctic char. Nearby Štirinsko Lake, one can see 80 medieval tombstones called “stećci”.
Kladopolјsko Lake
Nested at the foothills of Mt. Zelengora and Mt. Lelija, but also in the beautiful canyon, Kladopolјsko Lake is located at the altitude of 1380. With a maximum depth of nine meters, the lake is 250 m long and 100 m wide. The only way to access this beauty is from the town of Kalinovik and following the direction of village Obalj. As its name suggests it (klada=log), people started calling it Kladopolјsko Lake because of many logs that cover the bottom of the lake. We can imagine that while ago, this region was covered with forests and that the loggers put some logs in the lake. Also known as Martin’s Spring, due to a source that is 500 m away, Kladopolјsko Lake is fed by many creeks, and it flows off as a stream that disappears below the surface. This glacial lake is also very attractive for fly fishing.
Orlovačko Lake
On the route between the towns of Foča and Gacko, you need to turn at the saddle Čemerno, and after 25 km of mainly macadam road, you will reach Orlovačko Lake. Located somewhere between Mt. Orlovac (1965), Stog (1821) and Mt. Ljeljen (1765), this glacial lake sits on 1438 m above the sea level. With its length of 350 m, width of 100 m and depth up to four meters, this lake is perhaps not the largest but, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful of all Zelengora Lakes. Orlovačko Lake is also a heaven for fishers since it boosts in Arctic char, brook trout and rainbow trout.
