Vlasinsko lake is located between towns Leskovac and Vranje, close to the border with Bulgaria, beneath the mountain peaks Cemernik (1.638 m) and Besna Kobila (1.922 m). The lake lies at altitude of 1.210 meters above sea level. Its nice beaches, wonderful nature, clear blue water, good road connections with the rest of the country and the surrounding wilderness give you more than enough reasons to visit it. The famous peat moss floating islands are a unique phenomenon in this part of the world.
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In the place of today’s lake there used to be a muddy swamp called Vlasinsko Mud, a peat area covered with reed and other swamp flora, with occasional water ponds from which the river Vlasina sprang. In 1949 the rivers Vlasina and Vrla were dammed, in order to make possible the construction of the hydroelectric power plants Vrla 1, 2 and 3. Construction of the lake changed the local ecosystem, creating rich flora and fauna around it. The lake is today an excellent place for swimming and enjoying the nature.
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Vlasinsko lake is 75 kilometres away from Leskovac, on the road that goes via Vlasotince, Svod and Crna Trava. If you choose the direction Vladicin Han – Surdulica, the distance is almost the same. This second option may be more convenient, because you can use highway or railway to reach Vladicin Han. From there, you have only 29 more kilometers to the lake.
If you’re taking the train, you can get off in Leskovac and catch a local bus to the lake, that goes via Vlasotince (the slowest and not so convenient option, since it leaves to the northern side of the lake). Or you can just continue to Vladicin Han or even Vranje, and take a local bus via Surdulica that goes directly to the lake.
There are at least daily trains connecting Belgrade and Leskovac, Vladicin Han and Vranje, and many more slow trains going to Nis. Details at: http://www.serbianrailways.com
As for the buses, the story is about the same. There are frequent buses connecting Belgrade with Leskovac, Vranje and Vladicin Han, starting at 04.45 am, until 10.30 pm. For more details, call Leskovac bus station (phone no. 016 / 44 82), Vladicin Han (phone no. 017/ 473-066), Vranje (phone no. 017/ 21-201), and Surdulica (017/ 815-004).
When you reach Vranje, there’s a bus going via Vladicin Han and Surdulica, going to Bosilegrad and making a stop in Promaja (a village at the beginning of the lake). On weekends there is a bus going to the hotel at the lake (12 kilometres from Promaja).
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Vlasinsko lake lies at the bottom of a wide valley, surrounded by mountains Vardenik, Streser and Cemernik, whose mild slopes descend all the way to the lake. It is an artificial lake, created in 1949 by damming the rivers Vlasina and Vrla. It is the second largest lake in Serbia, right after Djerdap accumulation lake. It is 12 kilometres long and 1 to 3 kilometres wide (lies in the direction north – south). The surface of the lake, at its maximum water level, is 16 square kilometres, average depth is 10.3 meters, and it lies at altitude of 1.212 meters above sea level.
By raising the level of the water, during the filling of the lake, the peat moss emerged from the bottom. It was created there as a result of centuries of decomposing of various kinds of moss. When it rose to the surface of the lake, it formed big floating islands that are a kind of a trademark of Vlasinsko lake. When water level rises, the islands get detached from the bottom and float freely.
The water temperature at the lake’s surface is 21 to 23 degrees centigrade on sunny days in July and August, making the lake good for swimming. The snow cover often lasts from early December till late March.
Lake is surrounded by lush forests, green fields and mountain pastures, old villages, water mills and the abundance of clear water spring descending from the mountain heights.
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