Lake Bled
| Lake Bled | |
|---|---|
| Location | Julian Alps |
| Coordinates | 46°21′52″N 14°05′41″E / 46.36444°N 14.09472°E |
| Basin countries | Slovenia |
| Max. length | 2,120 m |
| Max. width | 1,380 m |
| Surface area | 1.45 km² |
| Max. depth | 30.6 m |
| Surface elevation | 475 m |
| Islands | Blejski otok (islet) |
| Settlements | Bled |
Lake Bled (Slovene: Blejsko jezero; German: Veldeser See) is a glacial lake in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The area is a popular tourist destination.
Geography and history
The lake is 2,120 m long and 1,380 m wide, with a maximum depth of 30.6 metres. The lake is situated in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. A medieval castle stands above the lake on the north shore. The only natural island in Slovenia is situated on the lake. The island has several buildings, the main one being the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary (Slovenian: Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in the 15th century, where weddings are held regularly. The church has a 52-metre tower and there is a stairway with 99 steps leading up to the building.
The lake is also well known among rowers since it has very good conditions for the sport. It hosted the World Rowing Championships in 1966, 1979, and in 1989. It will host the World Rowing Championship again in 2011.
The lake is 35 kilometers from the Ljubljana International Airport and 55 km from the country's capital city Ljubljana.
Gallery
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Aerial view -
Lake with castle -
Island on the lake -
Island church -
Pletna -
Half frozen lake
See also
References
- The Columbia Gazetteer of the World, ed. Saul B. Cohen. Columbia University Press, New York. 1998
- Fodor's Eastern and Central Europe, 19th edition. ed. Bonnie Bills. Fodors, New York. 2001
External links
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