Kapetanovo jezero (Kapetanovo Lake)

The lake in figures

Lukavica

The Lukavica plateau was used for sheep and cattle, and an abandoned katun still stands under Veliki Žurim (2,030 m), the highest point of the Lukavica group. Around the lake itself are about thirty small houses, the older ones from the herding days, the newer ones built for leisure, and a 200 m stretch of asphalt was laid along the west shore in 2022. A local legend tells of Captain Mušović and the mountain fairies.

Hiking

The Nikšić tourist board lists two marked trails to the lake: from Gradačka poljana (20 km) and from Zagarački katun (5.5 km). The Kolašin tourist board describes the walk in as demanding. A longer line runs across the Lukavica valley to the lake and on into the Mrtvica canyon, and horse-riding tours also go to the lake area. See the hiking hub for the national trail rules.

Fishing

Kapetanovo holds native and brook trout and is one of the two lakes the national tourism organisation names for trout fishing, with Biogradsko jezero. The Nikšić tourist board lists the lake among the Nikšić waters, where the angling club SRK Nikšić sells day, month and season permits. The fishing hub has the national rules.

Getting there

The lake is 34.3 km (about 1 h 20) from Nikšić and 84.8 km (about 2 h 20) from Podgorica by car; the slow times reflect a mountain road. A road reaches the lake from the Nikšić side, and about 200 m of asphalt was laid along the west shore in 2022. The Kolašin tourist board describes the lake as a hikers' goal; the marked trails from Gradačka poljana and Zagarački katun are the walking routes.

Manito jezero and Jezerina

Two smaller lakes lie above Kapetanovo. Manito jezero is about 1.2 km to the south-east and about 100 m higher, at 1,773 m: 0.026 km², up to 13.4 m deep, with no road and no buildings. Jezerina, a seasonal lake, lies a further 2 km south-east at 1,855 m.

Nearby

• The Moračke planine, the range Lukavica belongs to.
• Maganik, the massif to the south.
• The Mrtvica canyon, the far end of the Lukavica traverse.
• Nikšić, with Lake Krupac and Slano jezero on the field below.
• Kolašin on the Morača side.
• Other lakes on the lakes hub.

Questions

How deep is Kapetanovo jezero?

Up to 37 m, with a mean depth of 12.9 m. Only Black Lake on Durmitor is deeper among the glacial lakes of Montenegro.

Can you drive to the lake?

A road reaches the lake from the Nikšić side, with about 200 m of asphalt on the west shore. The marked trails from Gradačka poljana and Zagarački katun are the walking routes.

Which municipality is it in?

The water register places it in Velje Duboko, Kolašin municipality, with the Nikšić boundary along its west shore; the tourist boards describe it as on the Nikšić-Kolašin border.

Can you fish there?

Yes, for native and brook trout. Permits for the Nikšić waters come from the angling club SRK Nikšić.