PHOTOS: Blue Lake in Imotski completely dries up
- by croatiaweek
- in News
IMOTSKI, 14 September 2020 – The small town of Imotski, situated in the Dalmatian Hinterland on the northern side of Biokovo, is home to a number of interesting tourist attractions, including the Blue and Red Lakes.
However, Blue Lake currently is no longer blue.
The weather elements helped dry up one of Imotski’s natural attractions at the end of August, and at the start of September, the last drop of water disappeared from its muddy puddle in the middle.
Last winter there was very little snow, especially in the surrounding mountains of Bosnia and Herzegovina. And the lake gets its water through underground paths from the northern side of the Imotski Region, from neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A dry period over summer has left it in an unrecognisable state.
Blue Lake, this photo was taken on September 6, 2020 (Photo credit: revista.lebre/Instagram)
If there is no serious rainfall in the next two weeks then it is likely the traditional football match will be played on the bottom of the lake between Vilenjaci (Elves) and Vukodlaci (Werewolves).
The unique match is played whenever the lake is dry and was first played in 1943. Since then it has taken place only a handful of times.
Blue Lake, photo taken September 6, 2020 (Photo credit: revista.lebre/Instagram)
The Blue Lake lies in a deep sinkhole possibly formed by the collapse of an enormous underground cave. The total depth from the upper rim is around 220 meters, while water depth usually varied with seasons. In spring, when the snow from surrounding mountains melts, it can reach 90 m, and in 1914 it reached 114 m, overflowing the southern rim.
