Slovenia has a unique natural phenomenon that is best observed from the Slavnica Mountain. At the end of winter the mountain enjoys a Mediterranean climate with flowers and wildlife springing to life. Hang gliders are often to be seen as they travel above the huge karst basin until they eventually touch down at Cerkniško Jezero the ‘enchanted lake‘. On the dried out lake bed, farmers plant corn, onions, tomatoes, beans and potatoes, and reap hay.

The unique character of this landscape is created by heavy rainfall and melted snow and ice that covers an area of up to forty square kilometres.

When it rains, water flows from the surrounding mountains and into the underground caves from where the water is forced upwards, soon forming a lake.

When the water flows out of the caves, the lake disappears into countless crevices and the region’s typical limestone soil.

A few miles north it reappears on the surface as the Rak River until it disappears once again, re-emerging at various points along its path. When the water ebbs, the sun soon dries the earth where the local plantlife thrives in the fertile soil. As the lake recedes it forms several ponds that gradually grow smaller and smaller until the fish are confined to mere puddles.

Each year this natural cycle is repeated with the ‘disappearing lake’ totally transforming the character of the area by the appearance of, or lack of, its enigmatic, watery face.