Lake Cerknica
Encyclopedia
Lake Cerknica is an intermittent lake near Cerknica
in Inner Carniola, a region of Slovenia
. When full, it is the largest lake in the country. It lies in the southern part of the Cerknica Polje. The surface of the lake can reach up to 38 km² and the surface level varies from 546 to 551 metres above sea level.
Lake Cerknica is an important wildlife
resort, especially as a nesting place for many bird species. It is therefore a part of two Natura 2000
areas of protection and is the focus of the Inner Carniola Regional Park which covers additional Natura 2000 areas in the broader region.
, and exhibits some of the most remarkable features of Karst phenomena
. The lake, which under ordinary conditions has an area of about 10 square miles (25.9 km²) and a mean depth of 20 feet (6.1 m), communicates through a number of openings with a series of subterranean reservoirs or caverns, some of which are above the lake level in the surrounding hills. In the autumn, when the rainfall is slight, the lake is completely drained into the reservoirs lying below its level, and its bed is speedily covered with rich vegetation. With the returning heavy rains, the surrounding higher reservoirs are filled and discharge suddenly through the subterranean passages into the lake, so that the latter very rapidly regains its ordinary volume and may even inundate the surrounding country. The changes in level are, however, very irregular. Sometimes the lake does not disappear for several years, and it can remain dry for over a year, as it did in 1834-35. It is rich in fish, which disappear and return with the water.
in his Geography (v. 7, ch. 5) mentions a "marsh called Lugeum" (helos Lougeon kaloumenon) which has been identified with Lake Cerknica, Lougeon being Strabo's Greek
rendition of a local toponym, perhaps of Illyrian
origin. It is Romanized as Lugeum. In 17th century, the Carniolan polymath
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
described the lake in his letter to the Royal Society
which was later published in society's Proceedings
. He proposed a model
of filling and emptying the lake, based on Descartes'
mechanics.
Cerknica
Cerknica is a town and municipality in the Kras region of southwestern Slovenia, with a population of 10,284 . It belongs to the traditional region of Inner Carniola....
in Inner Carniola, a region of Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. When full, it is the largest lake in the country. It lies in the southern part of the Cerknica Polje. The surface of the lake can reach up to 38 km² and the surface level varies from 546 to 551 metres above sea level.
Lake Cerknica is an important wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
resort, especially as a nesting place for many bird species. It is therefore a part of two Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
areas of protection and is the focus of the Inner Carniola Regional Park which covers additional Natura 2000 areas in the broader region.
Intermittent behavior
It lies in a depression of the limestone plateau known as the KarstKARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
, and exhibits some of the most remarkable features of Karst phenomena
Karst topography
Karst topography is a geologic formation shaped by the dissolution of a layer or layers of soluble bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite, but has also been documented for weathering resistant rocks like quartzite given the right conditions.Due to subterranean drainage, there...
. The lake, which under ordinary conditions has an area of about 10 square miles (25.9 km²) and a mean depth of 20 feet (6.1 m), communicates through a number of openings with a series of subterranean reservoirs or caverns, some of which are above the lake level in the surrounding hills. In the autumn, when the rainfall is slight, the lake is completely drained into the reservoirs lying below its level, and its bed is speedily covered with rich vegetation. With the returning heavy rains, the surrounding higher reservoirs are filled and discharge suddenly through the subterranean passages into the lake, so that the latter very rapidly regains its ordinary volume and may even inundate the surrounding country. The changes in level are, however, very irregular. Sometimes the lake does not disappear for several years, and it can remain dry for over a year, as it did in 1834-35. It is rich in fish, which disappear and return with the water.
Research history
StraboStrabo
Strabo, also written Strabon was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher.-Life:Strabo was born to an affluent family from Amaseia in Pontus , a city which he said was situated the approximate equivalent of 75 km from the Black Sea...
in his Geography (v. 7, ch. 5) mentions a "marsh called Lugeum" (helos Lougeon kaloumenon) which has been identified with Lake Cerknica, Lougeon being Strabo's Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
rendition of a local toponym, perhaps of Illyrian
Illyrian languages
The Illyrian languages are a group of Indo-European languages that were spoken in the western part of the Balkans in former times by groups identified as Illyrians: Ardiaei, Delmatae, Pannonii, Autariates, Taulanti...
origin. It is Romanized as Lugeum. In 17th century, the Carniolan polymath
Polymath
A polymath is a person whose expertise spans a significant number of different subject areas. In less formal terms, a polymath may simply be someone who is very knowledgeable...
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Janez Vajkard Valvasor
Johann Weichard Freiherr von Valvasor or simply Valvasor was a Slovenian nobleman, scientist and polymath, and a fellow of the Royal Society in London.-Biography:...
described the lake in his letter to the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
which was later published in society's Proceedings
Proceedings of the Royal Society
Proceedings of the Royal Society is the parent title of two scientific journals published by the Royal Society, whereas its initial journal, Philosophical Transactions, is now devoted to special thematic issues...
. He proposed a model
Scientific modelling
Scientific modelling is the process of generating abstract, conceptual, graphical and/or mathematical models. Science offers a growing collection of methods, techniques and theory about all kinds of specialized scientific modelling...
of filling and emptying the lake, based on Descartes'
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
mechanics.
External links
- Cerknica Lake at official Slovenia travel guide