The Lovrenc lakes on Pohorje

 

Slovenia Post issued the stamp featured The Lovrenc lakes on March 27, 2009.

The Lovrenc lakes, the largest high swampland in Slovenia and one of the most important in Southern Europe, are a specially protected part of the largest Slovenian Forest Reserve Ribnica-Lovrenc lakes. The tiny lakes are situated on the ridge in water sources of Radolnja, Mislinja and Velka and present a natural and tourist site of special interest on Pohorje.

The swampland was formed as a mineral swamp on a corrugated impermeable surface. With the accumulation of peat, the marshes turned into a high swampland, which developed 8000 years ago. The lakes are true bogs, which were formed as erosion surfaces, since the ground of all lakes is progressing to peat. The swampland has no surface inflow. It is fed exclusively by surface water; therefore, the number of lakes is variable (11 to 22), depending on the volume and durability of standing water.

The vegetation of high swamplands is rare and specific. One of the the typical plants of the high swampland is the rotund-leaf-form sundew (Drosera Rotundifolia), a vulnerable species, which is indicated on the stamp of the first day. It is a plant with small, white blossoms on approximately 10 cm-long stems; it has superiorly adapted to the life in peat swampland ground. It is a carnivorous plant and gains organic substances from bodies of smaller insects, which are being caught by sticky hair on its leaves.

Source of the topographic map, which is indicated on the stamp: Public Information Slovenia, © Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia, National Topographic Map.