Idrijca – weir at Kobila (Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park)

In its upper course the Idrijca is small and very clear, and only the pools at its weirs are deep enough to dive. The Kobila weir once fed water along the 'rake' channels to the Kamšt wheel that drove the Idrija mercury mine's pumps; floods scoured a 6 m pool below it and destroyed the old wooden weir, whose remains still lie there together with mining ironwork. Trout wait below the weir for whatever drops over it. The shallower but wider pool above the weir changes shape every year with gravel deposits and has smaller fish and tadpoles.

Facts

Region: Slovenia – Lakes, Rivers & Caves
Area: Idrijca valley & Idrija
Depth: 0–6 m
Level: beginner
Current: low
Type: channel, drift
Coordinates: 45.98067, 14.02413
Highlights: 6 m pool below the concrete weir, remains of the old wooden weir, iron relics of the Idrija mercury mine, brown trout waiting below the weir, wide gravel pool above the weir, amphibian tadpoles, excellent visibility at low water
Tips: From Idrija, turn into the Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park towards the Lajšt bathing spot. Do not dive in Divje jezero about 300 m before – signs there prohibit diving. Park on the unpaved lay-by at the weir; the upper pool is an easy entry from the right bank, the lower pool needs a scramble – check the path without gear first. A suspension bridge between the weir and Divje jezero leads to the left-bank path along the channels. Two separate 20–30 minute dives; both pools also suit freediving. Dive at low water (summer up to 20 °C, winter about 5 °C). The park decree (1993, amended 2018) contains no diving rule for the Idrijca itself; check locally. The sheet dates from 2016; gravel moves, especially in the upper pool.

Idrijca – weir at Kobila (Zgornja Idrijca Landscape Park)

Facts

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