Tucked away in the Red Valley of the High Tatras at 1811 m above sea level, Červené pleso — the Kežmarok Red Lake — is a tiny yet utterly captivating mountain tarn with a peculiar secret: its water glows with a faint reddish-pink hue that has puzzled scientists for generations.

The lake itself is small — just 66 metres long and 35 metres wide, with a maximum depth of only 1.7 metres — but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in character. The surrounding rocks are dusted with a soft pink patina, which, combined with the ever-shifting Tatra light, gives the water its mysterious tint. Some researchers have pointed to the red lichen Lecidea confluens growing on the shores, others to iron content in the water — the truth is likely a blend of both, seasoned with a little mountain magic. Rising above the lake are fine rocky summits: Jastrabia veža (2139 m), Belasá veža (2284 m), Jahňací štít (2229 m) — the easternmost peak of the High Tatras — and Kozí štít (2111 m). Note that in hot summers the lake can nearly dry out completely, so plan your visit accordingly.

• Biela voda bus stop — trail via Šalviový prameň (Sage Spring) to Chata pri Zelenom plese hut, then northwest along switchbacks into the Red Valley — moderate difficulty
• Tatranská Lomnica or Tatranské Matliare — longer alternative starting points leading to the same valley

• The lake can almost completely dry up during hot summers — water levels vary significantly year to year.
• The area falls within the Slovak Tatra National Park; stay on marked trails at all times.

The Red Stream (Červený potok) flows out from this little lake — a fitting name for a place where even the water seems painted in the colours of the mountains around it.