Lake Vrana on Cres – legend, depth, swimming and fishing

Lake Vrana lies roughly in the middle of the island of Cres and is the largest island lake in Croatia, with an area of 5.5 km², and a natural phenomenon on the island of Cres, which is generally waterless; the lake is a huge natural reservoir containing more than 200 million m³ of fresh water. The water level of Lake Vrana is 13 metres above sea level, which means it is a cryptodepression; the absolute depth of the lake is 74 metres, making it one of the deepest freshwater lakes in Europe.

The legend of Lake Vrana

Various stories and fairy tales are tied to Lake Vrana, about its origin and the beings that live in and around it. According to ancient beliefs, the most common inhabitants of those caves are fairies.

The legend of the origin of Lake Vrana says that it was once a large field owned by two Gavanka sisters. One sister was rich and stingy, and the other was poor. The rich sister grew arrogant and began to seize the other's property, and she also treated the poor cruelly and stingily. For that reason divine punishment fell upon her, an earthquake and a flood. Her castle was destroyed and submerged. According to the story, the remains of the castle can still be seen deep at the bottom of the lake today, and only sometimes, during storms, is the ringing of bells heard from the watery depths. 

Swimming in Lake Vrana on Cres

Swimming is not allowed in Lake Vrana because it serves as the source of drinking water for the island.

Fishing in Lake Vrana on Cres

Fishing in the lake is also forbidden. After the disappearance of the Zagreb entrepreneur Vinko Hotko, the question of the safety and protection of the lake was raised; access to it is formally prohibited, as is fishing in it, although the ban is often violated.