Kołowy Staw (Kolové pleso in Slovak) is the largest lake in the Javorová Valley of the Slovak High Tatras — and one of the shallowest mountain lakes of its size in the entire range. Sitting at 1,565 m above sea level, tucked away in the heart of the Kolová Valley, it offers a rare glimpse of truly untouched alpine wilderness.

Despite its name suggesting a round shape, the lake is actually elongated and quite irregular — its rounder past gradually erased by scree and silt slowly filling it in. Stones poke above the water surface in many spots, and a dramatic scree cone sweeps down from the southeast, pushing a bold peninsula into the lake. The northern shore is fringed with dense dwarf pine scrub. In summer the setting is wild and serene; in autumn the dwarf pines turn golden; in winter the whole valley becomes a silent, arctic world.

• Javorová dolina (Javorová Valley) — no official tourist trail leads directly to the lake; the area falls within a strict nature reserve with restricted access.

• The lake lies within a strict nature protection zone — no marked hiking trail leads here.
• Entry to the strict reserve is generally not permitted without a special permit.

Kołowy Staw has been documented in writing since 1644, mentioned in a work by David Frölich — making it one of the earliest recorded lakes in the Tatras. Its name gave rise to the names of the surrounding valley and other nearby features.