The lake is 2,120 m (6,960 ft) long and 1,380 m (4,530 ft) wide, with
a maximum depth of 30.6 m (100 ft). The lake is situated in a
picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. The
medieval-era Bled Castle stands above the lake on the north shore. The lake surrounds Bled Island (Sln. Blejski otok),
the only natural island in Slovenia. The island has several buildings,
the main one being the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary
(Slovenian: Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja), built in the 15th
century, where weddings are held regularly. The church has a 52 m
(171 ft) tower and there is a stairway with 99 steps leading up to the
building. Traditionally it is considered good luck for the groom to
carry his bride up the 99 steps on the day of their wedding before
ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.
The lake is also well known among rowers because it has very good conditions for the sport. It hosted the World Rowing Championships in 1966, 1979, 1989 and 2011.
The lake is 35 km (22 mi) from the Ljubljana International Airport and 55 km (34 mi) from the capital city Ljubljana.
