Branica pools at Zavivalca gorge
The Branica, the largest left tributary of the Vipava, separates the Karst from the Vipava valley; below Štanjel it enters a narrow gorge called Zavivalca. Next to a weir above the hamlet of Čipnje the river has carved a couple of attractive natural rock pools up to about 3 m deep, with a weedy bottom and lush banks. Both deeper pools can be explored in half an hour and the long shallow pool up to the weir is good for snorkelling. The pools are small – room for one pair of divers at most.
depth: 0–3 m