Kotlac - the heart of Korana

When I messaged a friend to say I'd arrived at Kotlac, that it was a joy to be part of nature, he wrote back: "Kotlac has a story." As if he knew. And I told him that was exactly why I'd come — for the story.

So here it is.

The forest paths turn into signs of love for nature. You can see the symbols of it again and again. Most often a stone shaped like a heart, or a patch of moss. Or some inner connection with yourself that carries memories of the symbols you can always meet and feel in the heart of the Korana — like a painted snail shell whose spirals offer a kind of comfort that everything is here, now, present and steady, if only you become aware of it.

Forest, rapids, water oasis, little pools. Tall green grass lining the edges of the river, so it feels as if you're surrounded by jungle, with tall purple flowers for contrast. For anyone who loves macro photography, there's material here. The dragonflies are the guardians of Kotlac.

A place that takes everyone in

Kotlac is a place in no hurry. Small pools where children learn to swim while grown-ups let go and rest. There's room for everyone, and there's always more left over.

What makes Kotlac special is how easily you cross from one side to the other — you simply walk through the water and find yourself on the far bank, where you can rest and lie in the sun again, and drink from the spring. If you have water shoes, wading across here is an experience in itself.

A story that continues

Kotlac is both a beginning and a crossroads. From here you can go on — toward Jambrić, toward the little wooden shelter in the Jelvik forest, toward the Pod Oltarom swimming spot, toward Škrila and the main swimming area. But you don't have to go anywhere. You can simply stay in the heart of the Korana, among the dragonflies that guard it, and let the story be yours.