Lake Bohinj

Monday 13 June

The first order of business this morning was to drive to the nearby town of Bohinjska Bistrica to find a pharmacy.  After a short hobble around the town, we found the pharmacy and purchased some sterile gauze, a bandage and tape.  We also stopped at the supermarket and bought some plastic bags so that I could have a shower without getting my foot wet.  That accomplished, we headed back home so that we could change the dressing on my toe.  I was quite pleased to find that it didn't look quite as bad as I first thought although the entire right side of the nail has been detached from the nail bed so it is going to be a nuisance for a while.  However, I am walking more easily today so maybe it won't be too bad.

We then decided to take a boat trip on Bohinj Lake.  It departs about 700 metres from where we are staying and makes its way across the lake to a small town called Ribcev Laz.  The main attraction here is a church and a small stone bridge which crosses the stream at the end of the lake.

Our guide on the boat, gave us facts which we thought we would share with you:

Name:  Bohinj Lake - or in Slovenian, Bohinjsko Jezero
Length:  4.1 kilometre
Width:  1.2 kilometres
Depth:  45 metres
Water temperature:  Freezing in winter to 22 degrees in summer

Because of the number of streams running into the lake and the fact that the area has high rainfall throughout the year, the water in the lake turns over 3 times per year.  This also partially accounts for the fact that the water is so crystal clear.  The other reason for the clarity of the water is that it runs over limestone and so there is very little sediment to cloud the water.

The tourist boat that plies the lake was made  in Germany 50 years ago.  It has an electric motor as the Slovenian government has outlawed all petrol driven engines from the lake, which makes it a very quiet and serene place to be.

The scenery is awe inspiring.  Because the lake is so still, the mountains and trees are reflected in its waters and on the shores, trout can easily be seen swimming about.  Here are some pictures we took on the way there and back. 

Tomorrow we leave for Stuhlfelden in Austria and as beautiful I expect the scenery to be as we drive through the Alps, it will have to be very special to beat this place!