Idrija river pool at Golo Brdo
The Idrija (Iudrio in Italian, not to be confused with the Idrijca) forms the Slovenian–Italian border in its upper course, and at Golo Brdo it carves a pool about 40 m long and 15 m wide under the hill of the church of St Mary 'on the lake'. It is a short, easy dive of up to 3 m: first the deep part under the bridge, where larger fish hide, then the shallow upper end by the rapids with a lively shoal of small fish that ignore divers. In the deepest part lie dressed stone blocks, probably from an earlier bridge. The whole pool can be seen in under half an hour.
Facts
- Region: Slovenia – Lakes, Rivers & Caves
- Area: Soča Valley (Bovec – Kobarid – Solkan)
- Depth: 0–3 m
- Level: beginner
- Current: low
- Type: drift, channel
- Coordinates: 46.05922, 13.49961
- Highlights: 40 × 15 m pool on the Slovenian–Italian border river, fearless shoal of small fish at the rapids, shy larger fish in the deepest part, dressed stone blocks, probably from an old bridge, algae-covered gravel bottom
- Tips: Easiest approach is via the Neblo border crossing and north up the Iudrio valley to Golo Brdo; on the Slovenian side park in the long lay-by just past the bridge on the gravel road towards Mišček and enter over the meadow above the pool (from the Italian side, from the clearing on the right bank). Start and finish in the shallows on bare gravel to avoid tearing plants and clouding the water. Room for two divers at most. The Idrija is a torrent: dive at medium water – it can dry out in drought and freeze in winter. The sheet dates from 2012 – river gravel moves. No diving rule was found for this site; check locally.