Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes are an amazing natural wonder, so beautiful that it cannot be described in words. Thousands of tourists a day visit this amazing place and captivated by the magical views of the emerald turquoise lakes, waterfalls and majestic rocks, shrouded in moss, greenery and silence, leave with an unforgettable memory of what they saw. Plitvice Lakes are a group of 16 lakes, flowing into each other among a beautiful series of waterfalls falling from different heights.
Legend has it that the formation of the Plitvice Lakes was due to the Black Queen, who sent a lot of rain to fulfill the prayers of the people of the area for the drought. Plitvice Lakes are located in the Lika area in central Croatia, between the Mala Kapela and Plesivica mountains, 150 km from the capital Zagreb and close to the road between Zagreb and Dalmatia.
The area was declared as a National Park in 1949, and in 1979 the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Initially, the Plitvice Lakes were reached only by forest paths, while in 1958, the park management proposed to build a system of wooden bridges and paths, helping for a more impressive walk through this beautiful part of Croatia.
This strange idea, suggested by the then manager of the National Park Josip Movchan, fits perfectly into the stunning nature of Plitvice Lakes. Passing on these wooden paths - grills and bridges, the visitor is in direct contact with the captivating views - he is just part of them. The alternating lakes and waterfalls of different heights, they transport to an enchanting world and one can not believe how nature has created this miracle.
It is no coincidence that one of the first researchers of this park, academician Ivo Pevalek, exclaims: "There are other waters, lakes, waterfalls and forests, but the Plitvice Lakes are the only ones." These beautiful words are carved on a memorial plaque with his face in the National Park.
The Plitvice Lakes occupy an area of ​​217 ha (hectares) and descend 130 m, the largest being Kozjak and Prošćansko jezero. Traveling 8 km before flowing into the Korana River, there is greenery all around them, which enhances the feeling of calm and magnetism. Due to their different natural features and location, the lakes are divided into Upper and Lower. The highest of them - Prošćansko jezero, is located at 639 m above sea level and has a depth of 37 m and a length of 2.5 km. The lower lakes, the lowest of which is Novakovića brod with 503 m above sea level, are located in a canyon of sheer cliffs cut by the river before the appearance of the lakes.
The bizarre shapes of the rocks of Plitvice Lakes are formed by the natural laboratory of nature. These are sedimentary polycrystalline porous rocks called travertines. They are obtained by the deposition of calcium carbonate from running water rich in calcium. When it comes to the surface, the pressure of the groundwater drops sharply and as a result a chemical reaction takes place, in which the water-insoluble calcium carbonate is released and precipitates. In addition, minerals are deposited on mosses, which leads to their gradual fossilization. Thus, the rocks grow vertically from the lake beds, and also horizontally in the openings of the waterfalls, where caves have formed, about 20 in number. Where the last lake flows into the Korana River, there is an incredible view of the Great Waterfall literally (the "Great Waterfall"), which falls from a height of 76 m down on the opposite rock.
In the Plitvice Lakes National Park, the predominant forest vegetation is represented by beech, fir, spruce and white pine, and in its northwestern part is preserved a virgin beech-fir forest with unique tree specimens. Among the diverse fauna of the park are wild boars and deer, as well as some species of bears, wolves and wild cats. More than 120 species of birds have been registered in the area, and the trout in the lakes can be seen swimming calmly, undisturbed by passionate fishermen, as fishing in the lakes is prohibited. Camping is also prohibited, but 8 km along the Korana River, north of entrance 1 has a campsite.
The best way to explore the Plitvice Lakes National Park is, of course, on foot. Entrances 1 and 2 are located so that from wherever you enter you can tour most of the lakes on the main paths in less than a day. But you should plan to start the tour earlier before the numerous tourist buses arrive. If you start from Entrance 2, where the Lake Hotel and the ticket office are, the main path will take you to Kozjak Lake. From here a boat will take you to the other shore of the lake. Following the trail markings, the tour along the beautiful lakes, waterfalls and unusual vegetation is great.
Along the route, somewhere near Lake Galovac, you can take a bus that takes you high above the lakes, which offers a view of the entire park. Buses to the park are at every 20 minutes. Arriving at Entrance 1, you continue the walk if you keep your ticket and you can stop for a rest in the restaurant Lichka kucha, where you will eat outdoors.