Lovrenc Lakes

At the top of Pohorje, in the headwaters of the Radoljna, Mislinja, and Velka streams, lies a peat bog with between 11 and 22 small lakes, depending on the extent and duration of the standing water. This distinctive ridge bog, formed some 6,000 years ago, evolved from a mineral marsh into a raised bog with peat deposits reaching depths of up to 290 cm. Most of the 16-hectare peatland is covered with dwarf pine and typical bog species such as bog rosemary, round-leaved sundew, various species of sphagnum moss, alpine newt, and others. The Lovrenc Bog is the largest in Slovenia and the southernmost bog in Europe on a silicate base. It forms part of the Lovrenc Lakes forest reserve. Pohorje bogs are a unique type of habitat found on the ridge tops. Located at an altitude of 1,510–1,520 m, they are the highest-lying bogs in Southern Europe. Twenty small lakes, whose age is estimated at 8,000 years, have been named the Lovrenc Lakes. The entire bog has no surface inflow and is fed exclusively by rainwater. Plants here depend on nutrient-poor rainfall. The vegetation of raised bogs is adapted to such conditions and differs from that of the surrounding environment. Sphagnum moss, the main plant of bogs, has the unique ability to constantly grow new shoots upward while the lower parts gradually transform into peat. Both peat and sphagnum moss have a great capacity to retain water, which is especially important during dry periods. The Lovrenc Lakes forest reserve covers 22 hectares and is part of Slovenia’s largest forest reserve, spanning 522 hectares on Pohorje.

When you arrive at the Lovrenc Lakes, you feel as though you’ve entered another world. Marshy terrain at over 1,500 meters above sea level has created numerous small lakes, fed only by rainfall, surrounded by dwarf pines and vast spruce forests. In front of you lies the largest high-altitude peat bog in Slovenia.

Most of the area is covered with dwarf pine, among which wooden walkways lead you to some of the lakes. Among the lakeside vegetation, you can admire flowers typical of this area: bog rosemary, round-leaved sundew, and cranberry. At the edge of the lakes, climb the viewing tower for a magnificent panorama.

The Lovrenc Lakes can be reached from Rogla or from the town of Lovrenc na Pohorju. The Slovenian Mountain Trail also passes through here: you can take the section Lovrenc Lakes – Ribniška Koča, or Koča na Pesku – Lovrenc Lakes.

There are no huts or lodges at the Lovrenc Lakes or along the trail, so you need to bring your own drinks and snacks.