Plitvice Lakes

More than 1.1 million visitors on Plitvice lakes

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. Plitvice lakes were added to the UNESCO World Heritage register in 1979, but 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 Plitvice Lakes National Park covers a total area of 300 square kilometers, whilst the lakes join together over a distance of 8200 meters.

The oldest and most popular National park in Croatia

The basic kinds of stone are limestone and dolomite. Formation of the relief is the result of numerous occurrences in the 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. During the Pleistocene era, water was penetrating into the rocky base and by incising gradually formed 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.

FUN FACT: Swimming has not been allowed in the National Park since 2006, however, there are a few spots around the Park where you can enjoy the freshness of the river. Mreznica is one of them, and just a 45 minute drive from the park to the north.