Prološko mud
At this moment you have a view of Prološko Blato, located in the northwestern part of the Imotski polje. It is an occasional, or seasonal, lake and wetland that forms every year during the winter months and early spring, when due to heavy rains and increased water inflow from numerous springs, especially from Studenci and Ričice, the water surface increases significantly. At that time, Prološko Blato covers an area of 3 to 4 km², and the water depth varies from 1 to 6 meters, while the depth of Prološko Lake, which is part of Blato, is about 35 meters. The southern edge of Prološko Lake has merged with Blato, so during periods of high water levels the entire area turns into a large lake.
Prološko Blato is an extremely important habitat for numerous plant and animal species, and it has a special value due to the abundance of water in the karst landscape of the Imotski krajina region. The Vrljika River, which springs nearby, abundantly waters the Imotski polje, making it one of the most fertile areas in this part of Dalmatia. Vrljika is also known for its endemic soft-mouth trout, and the source part of the river is rich in karst springs and lakes such as Dva Oko.
Historically and culturally, Prološko blato is also significant. On a hill that becomes an islet during floods, known as Manastir, the Franciscans hid from the Turks in 1493, and later built a monastery there. Today, Prološko blato is protected as a significant landscape under the Nature Protection Act, which further confirms its value and the need for preservation.
The ogre, an endangered animal, is also a symbol of the Imotska Krajina region, and inhabits karst underground lakes, rivers and caves in the Dinaric karst, and in the Imotska Krajina region it can be found in the groundwater of the Vrljika River and Lake Prološko blato. The ogre prefers cold, calm and oxygen-rich waters with a constant temperature of 6 to 12 °C, where it can burrow into the mud and lives mostly deep underground, but can also appear near the entrance to caves. It rarely surfaces, mainly during heavy rains, which usually means danger for it.
As part of the Biokovo-Imotska Lakes Geopark, Prološko blato attracts nature lovers, birdwatchers and all those who want to experience the unique combination of water, karst and rich biodiversity of this area. Another natural beauty of these areas are the hidden Lokvičićka lakes, which you can learn more about at the location of the same name.
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