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Nature reserve · Kranjska Gora, Gorenjska
Zelenci Springs
Small wetland reserve near Podkoren where groundwater springs into an emerald-green lake and forms the Sava Dolinka. Wooden boardwalks and an observation tower cross the area.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Zelenci Springs
Zelenci is a nature reserve of about 47 hectares west of Kranjska Gora, just after the village of Podkoren, near the point where the territories of Slovenia, Italy and Austria meet. The name comes from the Slovenian zelen, green, because of the colour of the main lake’s water, which is about 2 metres deep.
The water arrives from underground: it is the resurgence of the Nadiža stream, which disappears into the Planica valley and reappears at the bottom of the porous lake, where bubbles and shifting sand can be seen. The temperature stays around 5 to 6 °C year-round, and therefore the lake generally does not freeze. The Sava Dolinka, one of the two rivers that form the Sava, the country’s largest river, springs from here.
The area was declared a nature reserve in 1992 for its geological interest and for the threatened species it shelters, including birds, reptiles and bats. A short route with wooden boardwalks over the Drni marsh, information panels and an observation tower leads to the lake shore. In the background to the south rise the Ponce mountains.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
Around half an hour to an hour for the trail, boardwalks and the tower.
Best time
In the morning, with fewer visitors and softer light on the water. The reserve is accessible year-round; in winter the lake usually remains unfrozen while the surrounding landscape is covered in snow.
How to get there
It’s next to the Kranjska Gora–Rateče road, after Podkoren, with roadside parking and a short path to the lake. By bike, along the valley cycle path, it’s about 5 km from Kranjska Gora centre.
Tip
Stay on the boardwalks and marked paths: the marsh soil is fragile, and bathing in the lake is not allowed.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Zelenci Springs
Where does the Sava River originate?
One of the two rivers that form the Sava, the Sava Dolinka, rises at Zelenci, near Kranjska Gora. The other, the Sava Bohinjka, flows from Lake Bohinj.
Why is the water at Zelenci so green?
The water springs clear and cold from a shallow sand-and-limestone bottom, which enhances the emerald-green tone that gave the place its name.
Can you swim at Zelenci?
No. Zelenci is a nature reserve, and visits are on paths, boardwalks and from the observation tower.