Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mathieu Mars · CC BY-SA 4.0
Black Lake (Crno Jezero) is a glacial lake on Mount Durmitor in northern Montenegro, within walking distance of the town of Žabljak and the best-known sight of Durmitor National Park. It lies at the foot of Međed Peak and is really two lakes, the Big Lake and the Little Lake, joined by a narrow strait that dries up in summer. It is the largest of the glacial lakes on the mountain.
How it formed
Black Lake is a glacial lake. It consists of two smaller lakes, Veliko jezero (the Big Lake) and Malo jezero (the Little Lake), connected by a narrow strait that dries up in summer and leaves two separate bodies of water. The Little Lake is the deeper of the two and so holds more water, although it is smaller.
Numerous mountain streams fill the lake, the best known being Mlin Creek, and others appear only while the snow on Durmitor is melting. Unusually, the flow between the two lakes reverses with the seasons: in summer water runs from the Big Lake into the Little Lake, and in winter the other way. The lake's underground outflow splits into two rivers, the Tara and the Piva.
History
Black Lake has long been the postcard sight of Durmitor and of the town of Žabljak, and the park was founded in part to protect landscapes like it.
Nature
The lake lies inside Durmitor National Park, and mountain streams feed it, some of them only when the snow melts. Its deep-blue, sometimes near-black colour comes from the pine forests around it and their reflections, and on bright days it can look turquoise.
Wildlife
The park is home to bears and wolves, but they tend to avoid busy places. You are more likely to see deer, weasels, otters and owls, so bring binoculars.
Gallery
Photo: Mathieu Mars · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0
Visit
Getting there
Nearest settlement: Žabljak
Swimming
No reliable information
Tips
A walking path circles the whole lake and is a popular outing for recreation and hiking; in places streams cross the path and can be hard to cross. Many mountain trails lead from the lake to other, smaller lakes around Žabljak, and the Katun restaurant on the shore serves traditional Montenegrin dishes. Check the national park's official page for current tickets and rules before you go.
Walks around the lake
A short, easy forest loop of about 7 km goes around the lake, and a longer loop of 13–14 km starts from Žabljak and climbs noticeably. Žabljak, the main base for travellers, is about 3 km from the lake, and most trails in Durmitor start at the lake. The glacial Jablan Jezero is about 1.5 hours' walk from the Black Lake and makes a good half-day target.
In summer and winter
In summer people swim in the cool, refreshing water, kayak and raft, and small rowing boats can be hired on the lake. In winter cross-country skiing takes over. Stalls along the way sell local produce and herbal teas, so you can leave the picnic at home.
An extreme swim
The lake is also the start of the Blackxtri triathlon, which includes a 3.8 km swim that begins at 4:30 a.m.
Nearby lakes
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Guides
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Sources & data
- Statistički godišnjak Crne Gore 2023, tables 1-6 "Prirodna jezera" and 1-7 "Akumulaciona jezera", Monstat, 2023
- Wikidata: Black Lake (Q1140650), Wikimedia Foundation
- OpenStreetMap: Crno Jezero (way 56693189), OpenStreetMap contributors
- English Wikipedia: Black Lake (Montenegro), Wikimedia Foundation
- The Black Lake, Durmitor National Park, Montenegro, Suitcase Magazine
- Hiking around Black Lake, Komoot