Floating islands
Do you remember Moby-Dick, a giant white whale from the novel of Herman Mellville? Well, such a creature sleeps on the shores of Vlasina lake, waiting to be wake…
Vlasina Lake is a semi-artificial lake, on plateau called Vlasina, on the altitude of 1211 m. The plateau is surrounded by mountains of Čemernik, Vardenik and Gramada. The lake is about 9.5 km long and the maximal width is approximately 3.5 km. Its average depth is 10.5 m, while the maximum depth is 34 m, near the dam.
Vlasina Lake
The region where today lies Vlasinsko lake in the past was a peat bog, mostly covered with the soils of mud with reeds, and sporadical water areas. Historical records that mention Vlasina plateau date back to the 18th century under the name of Vlasina mud or Vlasina peat bog because accumulated peat and mud created by washing river flows. In this way, in a 20 km long canyon were formed wetlands, in some places filled with quicksand.
Dugi del and Stratorija permanent Islands
The lake's flora and fauna are very rich, and include several endemic species. It features over 850 species of flora and over 180 species of vertebrates, including rare species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. The lake's surroundings are a mixture of meadows and high-altitude forests, especially birch, beech, pine and juniper. Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is the only carnivorous plant in Serbia and is unique to the Vlasina region. Birdlife includes gray heron, tufted duck and cormorant. The lake is home to numerous species of fish. These include brown and Ohrid trout, perch, minnow, barbel, grass carp,common carp, crucian carp, tench, roach and others. Ohrid trout was stocked and it successfully adapted to the environment, making it a popular for fishing.
Anchored islands
The Vlasina Lake has two permanent islands on the lake, along its eastern coast: Dugi del and Stratorija. These islands can be seen from the cache location.However, this lake is most famous for its floating islands.
Anchored island
After the construction of the lake, With the rise of the level of the water, one third of the lake surface was covered with "floating islands", actually parts of peat, which was torn off of the new “bottom” of the lake. Initially, the island used to be tied to the shore, however after recognizing their uniqueness they were left to float over the lake. Today there are several "floating islands".
Small floating island
The floating islands emerge when the water during high levels breaks off loose chunks of peat off the shores, 0.5–2 m thick. Driven by the wind, they float from one shore of the lake to another, depending on the intensity and direction of the wind. They carry the flora and fauna, and serve as the shelter and food source for the fish underneath. For that reason, they are an attractive location for fishermen. The largest floating island has the area of 8 ha (about 400 m long and 250 m wide), and is called "Moby-Dick" by the local population. It is overgrown with dense vegetation, including birch trees. Today Moby-Dick and most of other floating islands are anchored along the shores. But, I believe the day when Moby-Dick will wake up and freely drift again over the Vlasina Lake is not far… 
By the decision of Government of Serbia in 2006, the Vlasina region is protected as a nature preserve of special interest at category I.
How to get there: Vlasina Lake is most easily accessible from the city Vladicin Han, which lies on Niš-Skopje motorway E75. From here turn east toward Surdulica and Vlasina Lake, about 35 km. Or you can exit the highway E75 at Leskovac and drive souht-east via Vlasotince and Crna Trava, about 70 km.
The cache is white 150 ml plastic jar.
Sources: Internet sources. Photos: Internet, original (Galejnik)