Waterfalls in Croatia on the map. Croatia: Plitvice Lakes and Waterfalls
Plitvicka-Jezera, Plitvice lakes, Plitvička lakes (Croatian: Plitvička jezera)– located in the central part of the country, in the Lika-Senj (90.7%) and Karlovac counties (9.3%). The waters of the Korana River, flowing through the limestone, have carved travertine barriers over thousands of years, creating natural dams that in turn created a series of picturesque lakes, waterfalls and caves.
Plitvice lakes- a cascade of karst lakes and waterfalls on the Korana River, in the middle part of Croatia, on the border with Bosnia. A unique work of nature, the largest national park Croatia located in the north-west of the Dinaric Highlands, in eastern Lika.
A cascade of 16 picturesque karst lakes in the upper reaches of the Korana River, connected by 92 waterfalls. Each lake flows into the next, forming foamy, rumbling lakes. Over thousands of years of existence, the flows of these lakes dissolved the limestone rock and filled the valley.
Story
Name "Plitvice Lakes" was first recorded by the Otočac priest Dominik Vukasović in 1777. On April 8, 1949, Plitvice Lakes received the status national park, and since 1979, Plitvice Lakes has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Register.
Until 1958, the park was inaccessible to tourists; only clearings were laid in it. In 1958, Josip Movčan, the park's director, began building pedestrian paths, and today, in addition to an extensive network of boardwalks, there are routes for diesel and environmentally friendly electric road trains, ferries and electric pleasure boats. It is strictly forbidden to swim in the lakes of the park, and in the park as a whole - to have picnics, make fires, or walk dogs without a leash. This strict order is due to the preservation of natural balance, which has been carefully protected by local ecologists for many years.
In the spring of 1991, the park became the site of events called Plitvice Bloody Easter - the first armed conflict of the war in Croatia, which led to casualties. During the Yugoslav wars Plitvice Lakes have become the scene of battles more than once. By now, the park itself has been completely cleared of mines, and the tourist infrastructure has been restored and is being intensively developed, but mines are still sometimes found in the vicinity of the park.
Description
Territory of the national park "Plitvice Lakes" is 29,482 hectares (19,479 hectares according to UNESCO), includes 16 large and several smaller karst cascade lakes, 140 waterfalls, 20 caves and a unique beech and coniferous forest, preserved from ancient times and with the ability to regenerate itself. Its territory is home to bears, wolves, many species of rare birds and other animals.
The total difference between the level of the upper and lower lakes is 133 meters. The uppermost lake of the cascade is fed by two small rivers called Crna and Bijela (“Black” and “White”). - one of the few places on our planet where new waterfalls appear every year, which is due to the limestone origin of the local mountains. Leaves and branches from trees growing nearby that fall into the water quickly become covered with calciphiles (so-called “chalk plants”), which, dying, turn to stone and form solid deposits that block the rivers. Water, gradually eroding such “dams”, forms new waterfalls.
The park is located in a mountainous area, the most high point- Mount Mala Kapela (1280 m).
Lakes and waterfalls
The lakes of the park (16 large and many small reservoirs) are divided into two groups: Upper and Lower. Total area lakes - 217 hectares. They are fed by five rivers: Korana, Crna, Bijela, Plitvica and Riječica. There are about 30 waterfalls; Due to erosion of the rock and the formation of new sediments, lakes and waterfalls gradually change their configuration. Most lakes are named after people who drowned in them. In 2008, it was still allowed to swim in Lake Kozjak, but large number drownings led to a complete ban on swimming.
The largest Upper lakes:
Proščansko jezero, Prošće, 68 hectares, depth 37 m, length 2.5 km;
Ciginovac, 7.5 ha;
Okrugljak, 4.1 ha;
Batinovac, 1.5 ha;
Vir, 0.6 ha;
Veliki Jovinovac, or Big lake(Veliko jezero), 2 ha;
Mali Jovinovac, or Small Lake (Malo jezero), 2 ha;
Galovac, 12.5 hectares;
Milino lake (Milino jezero);
Gradinsko lake (Gradinsko jezero), 8.1 ha;
Veliki Burget, 0.6 ha;
Kozjak, 81.5 hectares, depth 46 m, length more than 3 km;
The largest Lower lakes:
Milanovac, 3.2 ha;
Gavanovac, 0.7 ha;
Kaluđerovac, 2.1 ha;
Novakovića-brod, 0.4 ha.
Main waterfalls on the Upper Lakes - Batinovački, Galovački, Kozjački; on Nizhny - Milanovački, Milke Trnine, Velike Kaskade.
The most beautiful and rightfully famous is the Sastavci waterfall, which throws down the water of the Korana and Plitvica rivers from a height of 72 meters.
Caves
The park is also interesting from the point of view of speleology - there are 20 caves on its territory, and those located under the waterfalls are of particular interest. The most famous: Šupljara, “cave without floor and ceiling”, “hole cave”), Golubnjača, Crna pećina.
Flora and fauna
The park is located at an altitude of 400 to 1200 meters above sea level (¾ of the territory is mountains), so mountain nature predominates here. Mostly beech, spruce, and pine grow here, and in the town of Čorkova uvala (Čorkova uvala - Chorkova Hollow), in the northwestern part of the park, a virgin beech-spruce forest with unique tree specimens grows. The park is home to 1,267 plant species, of which 75 are endemic, as well as 55 different types of orchids.
The Plitvice Lakes National Park is home to wolves, bears, wildcats, and roe deer. There are also 161 bird species recorded in the area, 70 of which nest here permanently. In addition, 321 species of butterflies and 21 species of bats have been discovered in the park area.
Plitvice Lakes is a national park located right in the heart of Croatia in Karlovac. Plitvice waterfalls, as well as lakes, are considered Croatian national pride. Many tourists come to this wonderful state in order to first visit the Plitvice lakes, waterfalls and.
Croats often refer to Plitvice Lakes as the Eighth Wonder of the World. The territory of the Croatian national park area covers almost 30,000 hectares. The Plitvice Lakes park is located right in a basin among the tall Dinaric Mountains, in the Koran river valley. The main attraction of the park is the cascade, which consists of 16 small, as well as large lakes, connected together by more than 140 branches, waterfalls and rapids.
Researchers believe that these lakes have existed for more than 4000 years. This area was discovered and described more than 400 years ago. The largest upper lake is Proshchanskoe, it takes water from two small rivers Crna, as well as Bijela. Below, following a chain of small lakes, is located the most large lake Kozjak is in this park, its length is approximately 3 km. At the end of the chain of lakes is located Big waterfall, its water erupts into the Korana and Plitvica rivers from a height of 72 meters. Weather in the world and here.
Description of the area
The rarity of Plitvice lakes, as well as waterfalls, is due to the unique structure of the surrounding mountains. As a rule, these are limestone rocks, which are cut by cracks and caves. They are based on rocky waterproof foundations. Soil water, as well as rainwater, enters through the surface soil and is saturated with carbon dioxide, thereby dissolving the limestone. Resting against layers that do not allow water to pass through, it begins to emerge to the surface in a large number of streams and ducts, already impregnated with magnesium and calcium carbonate. Thus, it has such a special, unique color.
During the evaporation of such water, magnesium is created, as well as calcium minerals, which turn into travertine stone over time. And characteristic algae and microorganisms contribute to this. During their own life, they absorb carbonates, and when they die, a mineral sediment is obtained. They mainly breed on mosses, branches, and trees that have fallen into the water. The process is carried out very quickly, so that a branch that has fallen into water will mineralize within a year, and then simply become a stone.
One of the most popular attractions in Croatia is the Krka National Park.. At the moment, there is the largest cascade of natural waterfalls in Europe, and, importantly, swimming is allowed there, which cannot be said about other national parks in the Balkans.
Krka covers an area of more than 100 square kilometers and is located in the Central Dalmatia region, surrounded by the cities of Sibenik and Knin. Krka has an elongated shape and is connected to the river of the same name. The river is located over an area of more than 72 kilometers and is the twenty-second longest in Croatia. The main attraction of the park is seven waterfalls arranged in a cascade, the height difference of which in total is more than 240 meters. In addition, the islands that are located in the center of the river deserve attention.
The most famous waterfall in the park is called Skradinski Buk, its length is 400 meters and its width is 100 meters. It consists of 17 waterfalls of different heights. The levels vary in height up to almost 50 meters. The second most popular waterfall is Roški Slap, tourists can reach it by boat from Skradinski Buk. A system of natural pools has been created opposite Skradinski Buk, so tourists can swim in them and admire the wonderful view of the waterfall.
Fishing, hunting, frightening or stalking of animals is not permitted in the park. You are also prohibited from walking dogs, driving your own vehicle into the park, lighting fires, and swimming outside the permitted areas. There are serious penalties for violating these rules.
In addition to waterfalls, you can admire a huge number of animals in the park; they are represented by 860 different species, including 18 species of fish and more than 220 species of birds.
Park operation and excursion costs
The park is open from 10 am to 6 pm. But those who wish can see the Skradinski Buk waterfall for four hours more; it is available to visitors from 8 am to 8 pm. The price of a ticket to the park depends on the season, on average it is 4-11 euros for adults and 3-9 euros for children. If you purchase a ticket for several visits at once, you can save money; for example, visiting the park five times for an adult will cost 35 euros during peak season, and 26 euros for a child.
The ticket price includes visits to the main attractions, a trip to the islands of Roški Slap and Visovac, a walk to Skradinski Buk and an archaeological excursion. If you visit the park in the summer, you can travel the entire route by boat. Tourists can hire a guide. For a two-hour tour, you will be charged 80 euros, and then for each additional hour, 27 euros will be added to this amount.
In addition, tourists can book a boat tour of the park, it lasts three hours and costs 13 euros per person.
Historical objects
In addition to natural attractions, in the park you can also see historical sites that are symbols of Croatia. On the island of Visovac in the center of the river there is a Franciscan monastery, which was founded by the Augustinians in the 14th century. Not far from it there is an Orthodox monastery from the 14th century. In the 17th century it was completely destroyed by the Turks, but almost completely restored. Now this monastery is the center of the Orthodox Diocese of Dalmatia, and therefore a large number of pilgrims come to the island.
Several years ago, a park development program was adopted and approved; the priority direction of the program was the preservation of cultural and natural heritage, scientific research and management involvement. There are no hotels or guest houses in the park where visitors can stay.
Where to stay for tourists
There are several hotels near Krka where tourists can book a room. For example, Hotel Skradinski Buk, this four-star hotel is located directly opposite the park. The cost of a double room varies according to the season, on average it will cost 80 euros. In Lozovac, not far from the park, there is another hotel - the three-star Vrata Krke, where you can find cheaper rooms. Besides these two hotels, there are several more that offer accommodation to tourists visiting Krka Park.
The national park is open all year, but summer period It is considered the peak season, because this is when tourists can enjoy swimming in the waterfalls. Russian travel agencies offer tourists tours to Krka, but you can also book an excursion to the park from local travel agencies. If you book a tour to the national park from Split, it will cost you 80 euros, this price includes transportation, swimming in the waterfall, a boat ride and a trip to the island of Visovac. It takes you an hour and a half to get to the park from Split, so lunch is not included in the price.
From Trogir to Krka you will get cheaper and faster, and you will also be able to explore Sibenik on the way, which is included in the List World Heritage UNESCO. There are agencies that will help you organize such a trip for about 55 euros per person (you may have already noticed that prices for services in Croatia are higher than in other countries of the Balkan Peninsula). The tour will last 9 hours and during this time tourists will be shown the main attractions of Krka, then they will travel to Sibenik and explore cathedral Saint James. Travel time from Trogir to Krka will take about an hour.
One of the most important attractions in Croatia is the Plitvice Islands Park. Despite the fact that swimming and fishing are prohibited in this park, a large number of tourists visit this place every year.
The park is located in the center of Croatia, the closest city to the park is Slunj. Scientists say that the age of the lakes located in the park is four thousand years old, however, only four centuries ago these places were given a detailed description.
The main attractions of the park are dams, naturally formed from limestone, lakes, caves, and waterfalls. Water seeping through the rocks forms channels and streams; by the way, all reservoirs of the Plitvice Lakes are emerald blue in color, the reason for this is specific algae and the increased content of calcium carbonate in the water.
The name of these lakes appeared at the end of the 18th century, as the clergyman Dominik Vukasović named the lakes. Until the middle of the last century, the national park was inaccessible to tourists - there were absolutely no walking paths, but now a lot has changed. Now, in addition to walking paths, there are roads along which electric trains pass; you can walk along reservoirs on boats and ferries, but they all run on electricity, and therefore the virgin nature does not suffer.
The park is located on an area of 20 thousand hectares; no one knows the exact number of waterfalls and lakes, since new reservoirs and water bodies appear here from time to time. But it is known that the waterfall cascade consists of 20 caves, about 150 waterfalls and 16 large lakes. The total area of the reservoirs is more than 200 hectares, all reservoirs are divided into Upper and Lower. The largest of the Upper lakes are Prošče, Ciginovac and Okrugljak. As for the Lower Lakes, Milanovac, Gavanovac and Kaludjerovac stand out among them.
The Sastavtsi waterfall, which falls from a height of 72 meters, is considered the most impressive waterfall in the park.
In addition to the huge number of lakes, waterfalls and caves in the park, there are also virgin beech and pine forests. There are wild cats, wolves, bears, roe deer and about 120 species of birds. No one removes leaves that fall into bodies of water; this is done so that the natural balance is preserved.
Swimming is not allowed in the park; picnics, walking pets and making fires are also prohibited. Hunting, fishing, and collecting plants in the park are also prohibited. Violators of the rules are subject to a fine of up to 2,000 euros.
Information for those wishing to visit Plitvice Lakes
The park attracts visitors at any time of the year. Due to its location, there is always humid sea air in the park. Snow falls in November and the lakes freeze by January. Even on the warmest days, the temperature in the park is approximately 3-5 degrees lower than on the coast.
The national park is located in Northern Dalmatia and is quite distant from the famous Croatian resorts. To get here from Dubrovnik you will spend five hours, comfortable public transport is absent, therefore tourists come to the park most often as part of tourist groups.
The park is open every day, but in winter it closes at 16:00, and in summer you can walk there until 20:00.
In summer, a ticket to the park costs 15 euros, in winter - 10, but there are various benefits and discounts. The ticket price includes a walk along the panoramic road by train and two trips on the lake by boat.
In winter, a ski resort opens in the national park, but there are no good slopes there. The tracks do not exceed 300 meters, but despite this, a lot of tourists gather there; they are attracted not so much by the conditions for winter sports, but by the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.
In summer, tourists love the trekking route to Mount Medvezhak; its peak is at an altitude of almost 900 meters. From there you have a stunning view of the lakes. If you want to go this route you should be careful because brown bear actually lives in the area.
There are several hotels located near the park; in addition to them, tourists can stay in apartments or mini-hotels.
The Croatian government continues to work to attract even more tourists to the park. In Russia travel companies do not offer our compatriots special tours to Plitvice Lakes, but such tours are organized on the coast. For around 60 euros you can go on a day tour to the park. This amount includes the ticket, transfer and lunch.
Our journey through Croatia continues. After a delicious breakfast at the hotel and a short drive, we finally arrived at the National Park " Plitvice Lakes"(Plitvice Lakes).
Plitvice Lakes- the first national park in Croatia, created in 1949, covers an area of 296.85 km 2 of stunning natural splendor, the largest of the country's eight national parks.
At the entrance to the park, the diagram shows a continuous cascade of 16 lakes. Water flows from one lake to another through 140 waterfalls. Every year a new waterfall makes its way.
The lakes are famous for their bright colors: ranging from azure to green, gray or blue.The colors constantly change depending on the amount of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of the sun's rays.
The sixteen lakes are divided into upper and lower lakes.About eight kilometers around the lake on wooden walking routes available to visitors. The trails descend from an altitude of 636 m to 503 m above sea level .
Plitvice lakes and waterfalls
Croatia
Our excursion to Plitvice lakes Started with a walk in the park. The air in the park was very sweet and tasty, somehow unusual.
Trout swim in schools of trout in the clear water of the lake:
A small boat takes us across the lake. Tourist route runs through the largest of Plitvice lakes. Its depth reaches 46 m.
Turquoise surface Plitvice lakes captivating to look at.
Here our boat sails to the shore, where other travelers are waiting for it.
Having landed on shore, we begin our walking route to the waterfalls:
The surrounding area is incredibly beautiful.
The clear turquoise water of Plitvice Lakes reflects the sky and trees:
Top view of the tourist route and waterfalls.
We continue our journey along wooden walkways, admiring the surrounding nature.
It's amazing that you can see the waterfalls so close.
Krka (Croatia) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.
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Krka National Park is home to seven beautiful cascades of waterfalls, two ancient monasteries, amazingly picturesque landscapes and a feeling of unity with nature that cannot be expressed in words. Located in Northern Dalmatia, near Šibenik, Krka is considered best place For educational excursion, which will end with a refreshing swim in the clear waters of the river of the same name as the park.
This national park is unique; its ecosystem, formed in the valley of the Krka River, is considered one of the richest and most beautiful in all of Croatia. A diverse natural world, unusual karst landscapes, a deep river carrying its waters through limestone rocks, and waterfalls are just part of the riches of this park.
Among the outstanding representatives of Krk's fauna, it is worth mentioning more than 200 species of birds, including rare golden eagles, as well as Adriatic salmon and Visovac trout.
Like the famous Plitvice Lakes, Krka National Park has laid out comfortable wooden paths and bridges for its visitors, thanks to which you can move freely around the park without harming fragile nature. But what’s especially nice is that tourists can swim in Krka; there are specially designated areas on the river for this.
Krka National Park is home to seven beautiful cascades of waterfalls, two ancient monasteries, amazingly picturesque landscapes and a feeling of unity with nature that cannot be expressed in words.
But, of course, the main attraction of the national park is the waterfalls. The most impressive, tall and large is the cascade of 17 waterfalls Skradinski Buk, which falls from a height of 45 meters. In addition to this, the park has waterfalls Bilusic Buk (22 meters), Brljan (15 meters), Manoilovac (32 meters with a total drop of 60 meters), Rosnjak (8 meters), Miljačka Slap (24 meters) and Roški Slap (the main waterfall - 22.5 meters).
It would be unforgivable not to visit the two monasteries located in the park. The first is the Franciscan monastery of Visovac, which is located on the island of the same name in the middle of the Krka River. The monastery was founded in the 14th century, in 1445 it passed to the Franciscans and they expanded and rebuilt it. The second monastery is an Orthodox Serbian one, which was also founded in the 14th century. In the course of history, it was destroyed more than once, in the 17th century it was almost completely wiped off the face of the earth by the Turks, the last time the monastery complex was not lucky enough to fall under the hot hand of the “Yugoslav” war. Fortunately, in 2001 the monastery was completely restored. The last but not least attraction of the Krka National Park is the Ethnographic Museum near the Skradinski Buk waterfall. Here you can see water mills and an eccentric “washing machine” that runs on the energy of a waterfall.
