A Virtual Tour To European Country, Croatia
- Content
- Plitvice Lakes National Park
- The history of the region
- What to see in Plitvice Lakes. Park resources
- Local climatic conditions
- Lakes, waterfalls, and caves
- Flora
- Fauna
- Cultural heritage
- Opening hours and excursions
- Excursion cost
- Rules of behavior
- How to get there
- Where to stay?
- Hotels
Hotels
Croatia
Croatia is a small state in the south of Europe, a fragment
of now-deceased Yugoslavia. This is a country with a long and glorious history,
only a few decades ago regained independence and is constantly growing in
popularity among tourists.
The main tourist treasure of Croatia is the captivating coast
of the azure Adriatic. The outdated tourist structure was almost completely
replaced there, new hotels were built for every taste and budget, and all kinds
of entertainment facilities were opened.
But, despite the abundance of tourist attractions, the
Plitvice Lakes hold a special place among Croatia's must-sees. Such complete
and unaffected by-human activity ecosystems in the Old World cannot be found.
Here, nature is not brought to its knees for the sake of an idle contemplator,
which is usual for European parks, but a person bows his head before the
greatness of the Foremother.
Interesting: Croatia is not included in the Schengen zone,
and to visit it is enough to get a national short-term visa (at least
formalities). However, if the tourist has a valid multi-Schengen, a national
visa for short-term trips is not required.
1. Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes is the largest and most popular National Park
in Croatia. It is located about a hundred kilometers south of Zagreb, in a huge
saddle between two mountain ranges, where the Koran River flows.
The park is freely spread over an area of about 30 thousand
hectares. Its main asset is the most beautiful karst lakes of all shades of
turquoise, emerald, and aquamarine, located in a cascade.
Such an arrangement favored the emergence of grandiose
waterfalls, with a roar overthrowing tons of water every second. The relict
coniferous and beech forests that have been covering the surroundings of the
lakes for thousands of years, the most beautiful caves resembling travertine
mansions, and picturesque ridges covered with lush vegetation deserve the
closest attention.
Nature has generously endowed this region with all sorts of
beauties, so it is not surprising that it attracts many tourists from all over
the world. Plitvice Lakes is a grand demo: look, people, the whole Earth could
be like this if it were not for your barbaric activities!
Interesting: only a small part of the park is open to the
public - then the kingdom of plants and animals, where the path is closed to
the leisurely viewer. You can only move along the tracks. It is forbidden to
swim, fish, make fires, have picnics, and let dogs off the leash - in a word, a
lot of “not allowed”. Despite this, 1.2 million people visit Plitvice Lakes
every year!
2. The history of the region
The Plitvice Lakes owe their appearance to the fleeting
Korana and several smaller streams. Rivers, breaking through the rocks, formed
travertine rapids and grandiose bowls filled with water.
For a long time, this area was considered enchanted - it was
called the "Devil's Gardens" and was visited extremely reluctantly,
only out of great necessity. However, this did not prevent the rebels and just
robbers of all stripes from finding shelter in the local relic forests.
And the hydronym "Plitvice Lakes" was first
mentioned only in the 18th century. The authorship belongs to the local priest
Dominik Vukasovich, but the lakes were probably called that before.
Interesting: the legend of the Black Queen is connected with
the appearance of the lakes. According to her, once the locals, suffering from
an unprecedented drought, prayed to heaven for even a drop of water. And then
the Black Queen descended, bringing with her a retinue of rains, thunderstorms,
and winds. As a result of their violent activity, giant bowls filled with water
appeared. Subsequently, they were called the Plitvice Lakes.
In the middle of the 19th century, scientists decided to
study the Plitvice Lakes closely: the era of limnological research and
geological exploration had begun. The general public did not remain aloof from
scientific research: an extensive campaign was launched to protect the unique
ecosystem of the Plitvice Lakes, and a reserve was organized.
The date of April 8, 1949, became fateful: it was on this day
that the reserve acquired the status of a National Park. However, until 1958 it
was inaccessible to the visiting audience: it was truly a wild corner of nature
untouched by human activity.
The park acquired the first footpaths through the efforts of
director Josip Movchan. Two biological stations were organized, and
subsequently, in 1979, Plitv Itsky Lakes were included in the UNESCO World
Heritage List.
Large-scale, but extremely sparing work to attract tourists
to the park began only in 1983. A network of paths and boardwalks was organized
for the convenience of guests' movement. By the way, it is strictly forbidden
to leave them now!
The collapse of Yugoslavia could not but affect the fate of
the park. The first five years of the 1990s were marked by especially bloody
events. Unfortunately, these territories were disputed, and fierce battles
unfolded over them. The park was washed with blood.
Fortunately, now there is a blessed silence on the Plitvice
Lakes, broken only by the buzzing of insects, the singing of birds, the noise
of flowing water, and the exclamations of tourists admiring the local beauties.
Interesting: now the park has acquired an eco-transport.
Electric trains run along the territory open to the public, which makes the
beauty of the Plitvice Lakes accessible for viewing even for very elderly and
physically disabled people. And on the lakes, enthusiastic tourists ride
equally environmentally friendly and silent electric boats.
3. What to see in Plitvice Lakes. Park resources
The ecosystem of the park can be called truly unique, one of
a kind. According to studies, it was formed about 12-14 thousand years ago. The
ecosystem of the region is prone to self-healing and natural development if it
is not interfered with by too zealous human activity.
4. Local climatic conditions
Over three-quarters of the park are located in mountainous
areas, more specifically, in the Dinaric Highlands. Features of the location
leave an imprint not only on the appearance but also on the climate of the
Plitvice Lakes. Still: the highest point of the park (the top of Mala Kapela
mountain) is located at an impressive height of 1280 m!
Here, coastal and continental climatic zones meet, which
gives rise to a temperate humid climate. Tourists should take into account that
high humidity always reigns on the lakes (about the same as near the sea, or
even higher), but the air temperature is much lower, so it is worth taking warm
clothes for a tour of the park.
At the height of summer, the water in the lakes reaches a
comfortable temperature of 24 0C, so one could swim with pleasure. It's a pity
that this is strictly prohibited!
Winters here are quite severe and snowy (mountains after
all). For a couple of months a year, the Plitvice Lakes are covered with ice,
and the whole area turns into a kind of residence of the Snow Queen.
5. Lakes, waterfalls, and caves
The most amazing asset of this incredible region is the karst
lakes. Even when you look at the photo, you are involuntarily amazed at the
transparency and color of the water. The point is its original composition and
natural filters built into the local mountains by Nature herself.
Rain and melt water pass through the limestone filters and
the harder dolomite rocks located below, being purified to the state of an
infant's tear. Along the way, it is enriched with calcium and other minerals,
acquiring a delightful, turquoise-aquamarine color.
Streams of water make their way through the rocks, and
obstacles in their way are overgrown with a layer of limestone, which
eventually becomes denser, forming travertine (this relatively soft mineral is
a close relative of marble). An important role in this process is played by
bacteria and microscopic algae that inhabit the water and frame it with mosses
and lichens.
Interesting: walking in the park and admiring the lakes, you
will surely notice an abundance of all kinds of driftwood. A particularly
attentive viewer will even see sunken boats! So: the lakes are not cleaned on
purpose, so as not to interfere with their unique ecosystem. Sunken trees serve
as natural barriers, which, overgrown with limestone, form new rapids over
time. Old natural dams are being eroded, thus creating new streams and
waterfalls, and the appearance of lakes is constantly changing!
At the moment, there are 16 large lakes in the park at various
heights (the largest are Kozjak, Proščansko, and Galovac) and several smaller
lakes. They feed on the waters of numerous streams and five fairly large rivers
(these are Korana, Crna, Bijela, Plitvica, and Riecica). The lakes cover an
area of 217 hectares and are cascaded from top to bottom. This gives grounds
to divide the Plitvice lakes into Upper and Lower.
Until recently (specifically in 2008), the largest lake in
the system, Kozjak, was open for swimming. But, unfortunately, careless
tourists often drowned (and the depths here reach 46 meters!), so the park
administration imposed a complete ban on water procedures. You can only sit on
the bank and admire the trout gathering near the shore. By the way, it is also
forbidden to spontaneously feed her!
When visiting the National Park, you will be constantly
haunted by the sounds generated by the water element: from the sonorous murmur
of streams to the menacing roar of waterfalls. A fine water suspension hangs in
the air, which reaches a particularly high concentration over the waterfalls.
The waterfalls here really stagger the imagination of even
seasoned travelers. At the moment there are about 140 of them, but their
number, location, and degree of p floods are constantly changing - as already mentioned,
the ecosystem here is alive and constantly changing.
Each lake, even the smallest one, boasts its waterfall, and
the largest lakes boast entire systems of cascades. The record holder among
them is the grandiose Sastavtsi, overthrowing tons of water from a height of
over 72 meters! This is a twenty-story skyscraper, can you imagine?
Another asset of the inanimate, but such wildlife of the
Plitvice Lakes are the caves (there are 32 in total). Many of them have not
even been fully explored, there is no way for anyone to go there. Some are open
to the public. The bottomless Shuplyara, Crna Pechina (Black Cave), and
Golubnyacha are of the greatest interest to tourists.
Interesting: the speleological resources of the park are
truly boundless: there are over a hundred objects in total. Research is
constantly being carried out in them (very carefully, so as not to harm
nature). Even the bones of a cave bear were found in Rodich's cave, which
greatly pleased paleontologists.
6. Flora
The territory of the park is covered with forests, meadows,
and wastelands, wonderfully fragrant with heather. Grasslands are a legacy of
human activity, more specifically, the development of new pastures, but forests
have covered this area for centuries. Their age is calculated in thousands of
years!
The main landscape asset of the park is unique beech and
beech-fir forests. The oldest and most reserved place is Chorkova Uvala, where
beech grows in a peaceful neighborhood with spruce and other coniferous trees.
Here come across specimens with a trunk diameter of up to one and a half
meters, towering above the ground, like 15-story buildings!
Scientists have counted 1267 plant species here, and 75 of
them are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. Beautiful ladies
will undoubtedly be pleased with the abundance of flowers - there are more than
fifty species of orchids alone. A beautiful rare predator also feeds on small
insects - the lady's slipper orchid.
Interesting: despite the abundance of unique higher plants,
the main environmental work is not directed at them. Every little thing is
especially carefully guarded: lichens, nondescript algae, and simple
microorganisms. And for good reason: they are responsible for maintaining a
unique ecosystem by supporting the process of calcification (creation of
limestone deposits).
7. Fauna
Do you remember the remains of a cave bear found in a cave?
So, to this day, Plitvice Lakes is the official bear residence. By the way,
even the park's logo features a green bear face.
In addition to clubfoot living in the bowels of the park,
inaccessible to tourists, zoologists count 259 species of vertebrates here.
Among the largest and most interesting are wolves, lynxes, deer, wild boars,
roe deer, otters, hedgehogs, and martens. Interestingly, only the bat is
represented here by two dozen species. The park even hosts events dedicated to
the annual European Bat Night. There are many lizards (there is even a viviparous
one) and snakes.
Interesting: another local legend is connected with bears.
According to her, Plitvice Paradise will exist as long as at least one clubfoot
lives in the local forests.
The avifauna of the Plitvice Lakes is surprisingly diverse.
In total, 168 species of birds are found here, and 37 of them are "Red
Book". 9 species of woodpeckers, 8 species of owls, and 12 species of
birds of prey nest here.
The number of species of insects is not at all calculable.
Enthusiastic entomologists counted 321 species of butterflies alone. And this
is even though new species of the smallest inhabitants of the park are
constantly found, so the list is most likely not exhaustive.
Lakes and rivers are teeming with fish. Wild brook trout
abound here, a sure marker of impeccably clear water. You can also see crabs.
8. Cultural heritage
Several authentic villages with rather interesting buildings
are scattered in the park and its environs. Most of the buildings are remakes,
but there are also architectural monuments. The most ancient architectural
sights include the remains of the Krchingrad Fort, which is on the peninsula
that separates the Kozyak and Gradinsko lakes.
Other historical and cultural sights of the region are much
younger. This is an old water mill on the Koran, carefully restored to its
original form for tourist needs, a sawmill built in the 20s of the last
century, and a little more “young” small hydroelectric power station.
Interesting: agricultural activities in the park (outside
protected areas) are allowed. The local population is mainly occupied with them
and serving tourists. The villages sell amazing local products: cheeses, honey,
liqueurs, and much more.
9. Opening hours and excursions
The park is open to visitors all year round, but the
permitted visiting times vary. During the summer, the park welcomes visitors from
7.00 to 21.00. Entrance is possible from two main checkpoints and a third
reserve ("Flora").
In winter, the opening hours are reduced (from 8.00 to
18.00), and entry is possible only from the first checkpoint. Many facilities
are closed, recreational vehicles are at a le, and there is only one hotel,
Jezero.
Movement of tourists is possible only on marked routes. At
the moment there are eight of them, all named in Latin letters (four from the
first entry, four from the second). Routes are circular, that is, ending at the
starting point. It is impossible to get lost: signs are everywhere, and
diagrams are attached even to entrance tickets. A detailed description of the
routes with maps can be found here.
Most of the routes include not only walking but also moving
by boat or road train. The pleasure boat makes 3 stops along the way, and the
road train - 4. You can get off at any station, take a walk, get back on the
transport (traffic interval - half an hour) or continue on foot.
The shortest route is designed for 2-3 hours, and the longest
- is for 7-8 hours.
What else does the National Park offer? We believe:
Climbing Mount Medvezhak. This is a special route for
experienced hikers, you should not go there without sufficient preparation.
Cycling. Biking is allowed only in the vicinity of the park
and its southern part (only 20 km of paths), along specially marked routes.
Boating. The boat station is located on lake Kozjak. We'll
have to work with oars!
Winter holidays. It has its ski base, although small, but
well packed. There is an equipment rental point, a lift, a wide gentle slope,
ideal for beginners, and the opportunity to go sledding.
Interesting: eco transport expands the possibilities of
tourists who cannot boast of good health and strength. However, it should be
borne in mind that many places remain inaccessible for wheelchair users due to
the terrain.
10. Excursion cost
Ticket offices are located at all entrances (we remind you
that only one is open during the off-season and in winter). Ticket office hours
coincide with the park's opening hours, but keep in mind that the last tickets
are sold a couple of hours before the park closes.
Near the ticket office, there are cafes where you can have a
bite to eat on the eve of or after a walk along the Plitvice Lakes. Here,
tourists are offered to buy raincoats (a very necessary thing for this area)
and all kinds of souvenirs. Information boards are located here, where you can
get acquainted with the network of routes and the schedule of recreational
vehicles.
The ticket price includes travel on pleasure transport within
the chosen route and medical insurance.
According to the data for the summer season of 2020, ticket
prices are for:
Adults - 200 kunas (150 if you buy a ticket later than 16
hours);
Students - 125 kunas (100 respectively);
Children under 18 - 70 (50 respectively);
Children under 7 years old and persons with disabilities -
free of charge.
For guidance: 200 kunas is approximately 26.5 euros or 2,150
Russian rubles (rate for the summer of 2020).
These prices are valid through September 30 of the current
year. Thereafter, entry is cheaper (the period of lowest prices starts from
November 1st). Groups of 15 people are served at a special price - a visit is
cheaper. It is possible to hire a guide, but this pleasure is not cheap and at
the moment there are no Russian-speaking guides on the Plitvice Lakes!
Prices are constantly changing, so it is better to get
acquainted with the current price list on the official website of the park.
11. Rules of behavior
We have already talked about all kinds of prohibitions, let's
bring them together and try not to violate them to avoid a very substantial
fine. It is forbidden:
Damage trees and other vegetation. You can't pick flowers
either!
Litter. Equipped places for the disposal of garbage and
toilets are located along the trails.
Get off the tracks. It is strictly forbidden to delve into
the forest so you do not see the attractions there.
Scream. The park is always full of tourists and quite noisy.
Shouting and bawling songs, disturbing the peace of vacationers, are
prohibited. An exception is made, perhaps, for children.
Disturb the animals. The inhabitants of the park can only be
observed from a respectful distance.
Swim in the lakes. Unfortunately, the ban is absolute.
Spread the fire. However, about smoking, the rules do not say
anything.
To fish. An absolute ban, even on a float fishing rod.
Set up camp. It is even forbidden to have picnics - you can
have a bite to eat only in specially equipped cafes.
Walk pets. Pets must be kept on a leash or in a carrier.
Cause damage to mountains. This item also includes the use of
special climbing equipment.
Feed animals. Fish are also animals, you can’t feed them with
bread!
To ride a bike. As mentioned above, only a small area in the
southern part of the park is available for cyclists.
Interesting: but here you can hold symbolic marriage
ceremonies. The photo sessions are truly amazing! However, permissions for such
events should be applied directly to the park administration.
12. How to get there
The entrances to the National Park are located along the D1
highway. There are bus stations opposite the entrances. By bus you can get to
the park from any major city in Croatia: Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, and
Pula. The road from the capital of Croatia will take approximately two hours,
but from the port of Dubrovnik, you will have to get about 5-5.5 hours. Buses
run quite often, in the first half of the day in summer - once every half an
hour.
Another option is to travel by your own or rented car. Naturally,
vehicles will have to be left in the parking lot. There are two of them, near
each of the main entrances. Motorcycles can be left in the parking lot free of
charge, parking for private cars will cost 5-10 kunas per hour (depending on
the season). It is better to leave any other transport or cars for a long time
under the daily payment: a parking space costs 70-100 kunas per day.
If you want a truly lasting experience visiting Plitvice
Lakes, it is worth going there on an organized tour with a guide. Tours are
organized from Zagreb and all resort towns in Croatia. The cost of the program
starts from 55 euros per person. Individual programs are expectedly more
expensive, but you can pick up an offer from a Russian-speaking guide (there
are few of them, but you can search). Most tours are conducted in English by
default.
Interesting: pay attention to the excursion program. Almost
always, the entrance ticket to the National Park is paid for separately. Some
offers are limited only to the work of the guide, not even including the
transfer!
13. Where to stay?
Tourists who wish to extend the rendezvous with the Plitvice
Lakes and get enough of the energy of pristine nature are offered several
accommodation options.
The first option is, as expected, hotels. The first hotel in
these places appeared in 1890, but, of course, it has not been preserved. But
four more hotels appeared, whose activities are supervised directly by the park
administration. Prices are quite high by Croatian standards - 80-100 euros per
night in a standard room in the high season.
14. Let's take a quick look at the hotels:
Jezero 3*.
A cozy three-star hotel, the only one open all year round. It
is worth choosing at least because of its location: it is located within the
park, or rather, in its very heart, near Lake Kozjak. SPA center, two
restaurants, winter garden. The price is high.
Plitvice 2*.
A small decent "kopeck piece", for fifty rooms. The
nearest neighbor of the more expensive Jezero is located at the park entrance.
The hotel has been operating since 1958, recently been renovated to modern
requirements. Restaurant, free parking, pets allowed.
Bellevue 2*.
Another budget by local standards is "two", but
working in the "bed + breakfast" format. It is located near entrance
number 2. It doesn't have a restaurant, but you can eat at a nearby Plitvice.
Bar, parking, and very cozy interiors with a predominance of wood.
Grabovac 3*.
And again, a good "troika", however, is already
located below the line (and more specifically - a 10-minute drive from the
entrance) of the park. Free shuttle to the park, more discreet prices. Included
a continental breakfast, and excellent conditions for relaxation.
If you arrive at the park by car, you can stay at one of the
two campsites (Borje or Korana). In campsites, you can stand both in trailers
and tents, connecting communications, and located in cozy bungalows. There are
showers, toilets, and food points. Campsites are located a few kilometers from
the national park, but guests are not forbidden to walk wherever they like,
ride bicycles, and swim. A free shuttle is available to the park entrances.
Plitvice Lakes: not to be forgotten, a must-see!
