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Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Žiga assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Wild Lake is a karst spring, 2 km to the south, is at least 160 m deep. You can enjoy the rich flora and fauna in its serene surrounding.
Wild Lake is a lake near Idrija in western Slovenia and a karst spring of the Vauclusian type. The lake is the source of the Jezernica River, a tributary of the Idrijca and, at 55 metres (180 ft) long, the shortest river in Slovenia. Water flows from the submerged cave in the southern shore of the lake, out of a steeply inclined tunnel, explored to a depth of 160 metres (520 ft) and length of 415 metres (1,362 ft). The discharge occasionally surpasses 60 cubic metres per second (2,100 cu ft/s). However, when the water level is low, there is no outflow from the lake. In 1967, the lake was protected as a natural monument. In 1972, it was arranged to be the first Slovenian natural museum.
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Rudnik živega srebra Idrija Mercury Mine
An old mercury mine that is now open for exhibition to guests. Guided tours available..
Topilnica
Mercury mine smeltery is part of the Idrija mercury mine where cinnabar, the main mercury ore was roasted to extract mercury. The smeltery presents the evolution of metallurgical processes through history in the visiting centre with renovated examples of Čermak-Špirek and rotational furnaces outside. Tourists may also see the receiving station of a mining cable car system from the 1970s and its belonging sorting and crushing machines. Smeltery is also part of the UNESCO programme Heritage of Mercury: Almadén and Idrija.
Raufnk (dialectal, literally 'chimney') is a 454 m high hill with nice overview of Idrija above the former mercury mine smelting area. Smeltery smokestack was built on top of the hill during the smeltery modernisation in 1872. At first, the chimney was 14 meters tall, but was later lowered. This was one of the most mercury polluted areas in Idrija, however the nature started reclaiming the area once the mine closed down in 1996.