Kotlaničko Lake
Description
Kotlaničko Lake is a natural mountain lake on Zelengora, located in a cirque formed by glacial activity, surrounded by the peaks Domoš (1,882 m), Prutača (1,817 m), Klek (1,899 m), and Zimovnica (1,742 m). It lies at an altitude of about 1,514–1,528 meters, within Sutjeska National Park. It is about 400–480 meters long and 120–200 meters wide, with a maximum depth of up to 10 meters.
It is pear-shaped, and the water has a naturally emerald-green color created by the reflection of underwater plants that cover almost the entire bottom. The lake is fed by springs, and the water flows underground to Pridvoričko Spring, which flows into the Neretva. It is home to lake char and the endemic triton, a rare amphibian. Kotlaničko is one of the most beautiful and least visited lakes on Zelengora, reached by a marked mountain trail from the pass above Orlovačko Lake.
Emerald Pearl
Many people who come to Zelengora miss Kotlaničko Lake — unfairly considered remote and inaccessible. In fact, the trail from the pass above Orlovačko Lake to Kotlaničko leads through an unusual, almost lunar landscape of rocky cirque formations, and is pleasant for hiking.
The reward at the end is a lake whose water has an emerald color — not because of any filter or cloud cover, but because of a dense carpet of underwater plants covering almost the entire bottom. This color makes the lake unique on Zelengora and one of the most photogenic lakes in all of NP Sutjeska.
Most important for tourists
Triton: endemic amphibian — protected species, do not touch!
