Ali Pasha Springs

The Ali Pasha springs rise in a meadow between Plav and Gusinje, where water filtering down from the Prokletije limestone comes back to the surface in a scatter of pools and channels so clear that the gravel bed is visible throughout, feeding the Ljuča which runs into Lake Plav. Wooden bridges cross the channels and the meadow is used for picnicking, with the mountains standing behind on all sides. The name attaches the place to an Ottoman commander of the region, and the springs have been a gathering point for the villages of Plav and Gusinje for as long as anyone records.

What you actually see

• The spring pools - water rising through gravel into pools of great clarity.
• The channels - the network of streams crossing the meadow.
• The wooden bridges - the crossings linking the banks.
• The mountain setting - Prokletije standing around the meadow.

When to go

May to October; flow is strongest after snowmelt in late spring. Summer weekends bring picnicking crowds. The meadow is boggy in early spring.

Honest expectations

It is a small site and an hour covers it. Weekend crowds and litter are a problem in summer. Facilities are limited to a couple of seasonal cafes.

Nearby

Gusinje is south, and Lake Plav is north.