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ECO-TOURISM
TOP ATTRACTION

Pliva Lake

5.3 km to the city center

Description

The Pliva Lakes – Veliko (Great) and Malo (Small) Pliva Lake – are among the most beautiful and largest natural lakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, set in the valley of the Pliva River just five kilometres from the royal town of Jajce. The Great Lake is about 3.3 kilometres long, up to 700 metres wide and as much as 36 metres deep, while its emerald-green water reaches a pleasant 21 °C in summer and is good for swimming.

Because of its density and exceptional stillness the water is regarded as "heavy" and is ideal for kayaking, canoeing and rowing – in 1963 it hosted the Seventh European and an extraordinary World Championship in flatwater disciplines. The special charm comes from a complex of twenty wooden watermills (mlinčići) on a tufa barrier between the two lakes, a unique ethnographic landmark. The lakes are also home to the rare lake trout, the zlatovčica.

Best time: Spring and summer
Lake length: ~3.3 km
Depth up to 36 m
Rowing possible all year

Activities

Kayaking, canoeing and rowing on the calm "heavy" water
Swimming in the emerald water in summer
Visiting the complex of watermills (mlinčići)
Fishing – trout, tench and carp
A trip to nearby Jajce and the Pliva Waterfall

Practical Information

Rowing courses (200/500/1,000 m) marked with buoys
5 km from central Jajce, paved access
A complex of 20 wooden watermills (mlinčići) on the Pliva
Structures of high ethnographic value, restored and lit at night

Eko-turizam

Among the largest natural lakes in BiH
Emerald-green, exceptionally still water
Lakes separated by natural tufa barriers
Habitat of the rare lake trout, the zlatovčica

The Pliva Mills were built from oak wood, without a single nail, and have neither windows nor a loft — making them a remarkable example of ancient carpentry craftsmanship.