Lake Bled

Lake Bled
Lake Bled seen from Little Osojnica Hill
Location Julian Alps
Coordinates 46°21′52″N 14°05′41″E / 46.36444°N 14.09472°E / 46.36444; 14.09472Coordinates: 46°21′52″N 14°05′41″E / 46.36444°N 14.09472°E / 46.36444; 14.09472
Basin countries Slovenia
Max. length 2,120 m (6,960 ft)
Max. width 1,380 m (4,530 ft)
Surface area 1.45 km2 (0.56 sq mi)
Max. depth 29.5 m (97 ft)
Water volume 0.0257 km3 (0.0062 cu mi)
Surface elevation 475 m (1,558 ft)
Islands Bled Island
Settlements Bled

Lake Bled (Slovene: Blejsko jezero; German: Bleder See, Veldeser See) is a lake in the Julian Alps of the Upper Carniolan region of northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled. The area is a tourist destination. The lake is 35 km (22 mi) from Ljubljana International Airport and 55 km (34 mi) from the capital city, Ljubljana.

Geography and history

The lake is of mixed glacial and tectonic origin. It is 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long and 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with a maximum depth of 29.5 m (97 ft), and it has a small island. The lake lies in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. Medieval Bled Castle stands above the lake on the north shore. The Zaka Valley lies at the west end of the lake.

The World Rowing Championships in 1966, 1979, 1989, and 2011 were held at Lake Bled.

Bled Island

The lake surrounds Bled Island (Blejski otok). The island has several buildings, the main one being the pilgrimage church dedicated to the Assumption of Mary (Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in its current form near the end of the 17th century, and decorated with remains of Gothic frescos from around 1470 in the presbyterium and rich Baroque equipment.[1]

The church has a 52 m (171 ft) tower and there is a Baroque stairway dating from 1655 with 99 stone steps leading up to the building. The church is frequently visited and weddings are held there regularly. Traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kermavnar, Simona; Turk, Matija. "Podružnična cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja na Otoku na Bledu" [Assumption Chapel of Ease on the Island in Bled]. In Šmid Hribar, Mateja; Golež, Gregor; Podjed, Dan; Kladnik, Drago; Erhartič, Bojan; Pavlin, Primož; Ines, Jerele. Enciklopedija naravne in kulturne dediščine na Slovenskem – DEDI [Encyclopedia of Natural and Cultural Heritage in Slovenia] (in Slovenian). Retrieved 23 April 2013.
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