PLITVICE LAKES NATIONAL PARK

Plitvice Lakes National Park (colloquial Plitvice, pronounced [plîtʋitse]) is one of the oldest national parks in Southeast Europe and the largest national park in Croatia. Therefore, the park is added to the UNESCO World Heritage register in 1979. The national park was founded in 1949. It is situated in the mountainous area of central Croatia just on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The important north-south road connection, which passes through the national park area, connects the Croatian inland with the Adriatic coastal region. The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90% of this area is part of Lika-Senj County. While the remaining 10% is part of Karlovac County. The Plitvice Lakes National Park covers a total area of 300 square kilometers, whilst the lakes join together over a distance of 8200 meters.

More than 1.1 million visitors

The basic kinds of stone are limestone and dolomite. Formation of the relief is the result of numerous occurrences in geological past. Which took place in a large area of Dinaric ranges during the formation of mountain ranges such as today’s Velebit, Velika and Mala Kapela and Lička Plješevica. Thus created by movement and erection of large blocks of stone. During the Pleistocene era water was penetrating into the rocky base and by incising formed gradually what is today’s relief. For centuries, water has changed the limestone and thus the landscape of this area. The emerging travertine barriers decelerated and retained the flowing water. These dams are continuously growing in height. The color of the lakes is emerald green or turquoise.

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