National park Plitvice Lakes

No photo or travel guide can convey the true beauty of this pearl of Croatia.

Plitvice Lakes National Park is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia. They are located in the eastern part of Lika and are located between the two mountains of Mala Kapela and Lička Plješivica.

The total area of ​​the park is 29,685 hectares, of which 200 ha are lakes and 13,320 ha are forests and other vegetation. With its exceptional natural beauty, this area has always attracted nature lovers, so on April 8, 1949, it was declared the first national park in Croatia.

The sedimentation process, which forms travertine barriers and creates lakes, represents a unique value, which is why the Plitvice Lakes received international recognition on October 26, 1979, by being entered on the UNESCO list of world heritage under protection.

They consist of 16 lakes of different sizes, filled with crystal blue-green water. The lakes are divided into Upper and Lower. The upper lakes (there are 12 of them) are located on a dolomite bedrock and the lower lakes (of which there are 4) are cut in a limestone canyon. They got their names from the inhabitants of this region according to their position. The upper lakes are: Prošćansko jezero, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac, Milino jezero, Gradinsko jezero, Veliki Burget and Kozjak. The lower lakes are: Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod.

The lakes get their water from numerous rivers and streams, and are connected to each other by cascades and waterfalls. Travertine barriers, which were created over a period of ten thousand years, are one of the fundamental features of the Park.

The biggest attraction of Plitvice are certainly the waterfalls, the most famous of which is the 78 m high Veliki slap or Slap Plitvice, which makes it the highest waterfall in Croatia.

There is great biodiversity and many different habitats for animals in the Park area: lakes, forests, grasslands, rocks, caves, etc.

In addition to the fact that you can walk for hours and take photos in the Park, you can go hiking, ride a bike or boat and enjoy the gastronomy of the Lika region.

Whichever way you visit Plitvice, we are sure that it will remain in your unforgettable memory.

In 2011, 1,084,451 tourists visited Plitvice Lakes.