Plačlivé pliesko is the largest lake in the Roháče cirque, tucked away at 1787 m above sea level in the Jamnícka Valley of the Western Tatras in Slovakia. Remote, raw and wonderfully peaceful, it rewards those willing to venture just off the beaten trail.
The lake rests in a natural hollow framed by rocks and alpine grasses in the upper reaches of Jamnícka Valley, beneath Žiarske Sedlo pass and the eastern face of the Plačlivé peak. Since grazing ceased in the area, patches of dwarf pine have begun reclaiming the slopes, adding to the sense of wild solitude. In spring the snowmelt fills the lake with crystal-clear water; in summer the surrounding greenery softens the rugged terrain; and in autumn the golden hues of the grasses against grey rock make for a dramatic scene. Two smaller lakes also sit nearby within the same cirque, making the whole basin feel like a hidden mountain sanctuary.
How to get thereThe lake was first scientifically surveyed only in 1931, by Polish researchers Jerzy Młodziejowski and Tadeusz Zwoliński — a little piece of cross-border mountain history hidden at nearly 1800 metres.