Croatian lakes. Plitvice lakes in Croatia. Climate and natural landscape of Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice Lakes National Park is business card Croatia, a unique natural formation and a definite must see. The lakes are extremely picturesque - wooded hills surround turquoise lakes, which are interconnected by a series of waterfalls and river cascades. Along the shores of lakes, under waterfalls and above the roaring water, winding wooden walkways and decks are laid (their length is a total of 18 km). In 1979, UNESCO declared Plitvice Lakes a world heritage.
Lakes are divided into upper and lower. Upper Lakes, lying in a dolomite valley, are surrounded by dense forests and connected by several magnificent waterfalls. The lower lakes are shallower and smaller. Their main food comes from the Bisla and Crna rivers (their names mean white and black), which connect south of Lake Proshchansko. To make it easier for you to imagine the scale of the spectacle, I drew a red square the size of a person walking along the path.
In this article I will tell you how to best organize your visit to Plitvice Lakes, how it is with parking, queues for tickets, and accommodation options. Is it better to take a tour or go on your own?
The closest cities with airports are Zagreb, Rijeka and Zadar. From these cities to Plitvice Lakes it will take only 2-2.5 hours by car. Vacationers in the Rijeka or Zadar area can easily visit Plitvice Lakes in one day without an overnight stay. IN summer season you can find yourself an excursion to Plitvice Lakes or rent a car and go on your own. You might want to save money and go to Plitvice Lakes on regular buses, see bus schedule (English). In this case, you will also quickly have to look for an overnight stay on the lakes.
If you are vacationing on the Istrian coast, you can get to the lakes in 4-5 hours by car. In all tourist cities The Istrian coast offers excursions to Plitvice Lakes in summer; such excursions are usually carried out in one day. The bus leaves at 6 - 7 a.m. and returns at 10 - 24 p.m.
Those traveling by car have the opportunity not to torment themselves with such an extreme daily routine and plan one or two nights in the Plitvice Lakes area; on the way you can also explore. We chose two overnight stays for ourselves, the first day we drove from Pula, explored Slunj-Rastoki, swam in the river there, Swimming in Plitvice Lakes is prohibited, the second day we walked entirely around the Plitvice Lakes, spent the night in Slunj (30 km from the Plitvice Lakes), and on the third day we drove towards home. Travel costs toll roads from Pula to Slunj in 2017 was 110 kunas or 1100 rubles.
About the weather in the Plitvice Lakes region
You need to understand that the climate of continental Croatia is very different from the climate on the coast. Palm trees, cacti, olive groves grow near the sea, there is practically no winter, but on the Plitvice Lakes there are mountains, only coniferous and deciduous forests grow, and in winter there is snow. Those. You definitely need to monitor the weather on the lakes on the day of your visit and take extra clothing with you if necessary; it may be much colder there than on the coast, or it may not be, depending on your luck.
In our age of smartphones, you can install a weather informer on your phone, set it to several places of your future deployment and watch the weather there in real time, that’s what we did. Data is updated via the Internet, which is available in all hotels and even campsites.
Where to stay in the Plitvice Lakes region
Right at the entrance to ENTRANCE2 park (see area map below) there are three official hotel parka -
Map of Plitvice Lakes National Park Organized excursions only take the route from entrance ENTRANCE1 to ENTRANCE2 (see area map above), this is the minimum possible route, it usually takes about 3-4 hours to complete. Independent travelers They can diversify their life and choose a longer route for one day or take 2 days to visit the national park. In August, I would not recommend spending two days walking in the park; two days among the crowd is too tiring in my opinion.
The time required to explore the park greatly depends on the current season and current weather. In winter, not all trails in the park are open, boats and buses do not operate, but entry ticket prices drop by half, and there are significantly fewer visitors than in summer. During the hot summer season, the route will be hampered by crowds of people and queues. The lakes are beautiful at any time of the year and they are different at each time of the year, I would love to visit national park winter or autumn.
In fact, there are as many as 9 routes through Plitvice Lakes Park. walking routes. Route A (total length 3.5 km) is used by everyone, route C is an extended route B. The longest route is K1 (18.3 km). The choice of route also depends on weather conditions and the presence or absence of crowds. All trails are marked, so you won't get lost. Next, I will tell you what we saw while walking along routes A and C. Of course, photographs cannot convey all the power and beauty of natural phenomena and definitely cannot replace a walk in the park.
Photos of Plitvice Lakes Park
This is what the descent to the lakes looks like from ENTRANCE1. This path offers a fabulous view, which I showed you in the first photo of this article. I will show the photographs sequentially from ENTRANCE1 to ENTRANCE2, this route is marked on the signs with the letter A and runs along the lower lakes. From ENTRANCE2 to ST3 we continued along route C along the upper lakes.
Descent down to the lakes The Croatians are not original in their names; the largest waterfall is called VELIKI SLAP, which simply means a large waterfall; I suspect that in the spring it is much fuller. At the foot of the mountain there were bridges along which people pushed to the platform located at the very foot of the waterfall.
The largest waterfall is Plitvice The photo below shows a drawing of Lake Kaluderovac; it better describes the local terrain and illustrates the cascading nature of lakes with turquoise water. The waterfalls are located between the cascades, the walkways lie almost above the very edge of the water, it is not recommended to leave the paths. Firstly, because it is wet and dirty there, secondly, to protect nature and not trample down the local unique flora, and thirdly, you personally saw a small snake in the grass, you should not tempt fate.
Lake Kaluderovac Such beauty could be formed thanks to the unique alternation of geological rocks. The dolomite base, limestone, chalk deposits, and tuff have varying degrees of hardness and varying degrees of resistance to erosion by water, so in some places lagoons are formed, and in some places barriers of harder rocks create barriers to flow. This process does not stop for a minute; the formation of lakes and waterfalls continues. If in one place a tuff barrier cannot withstand the pressure of water and breaks, then in another place sedimentary rocks will strengthen a new barrier.
Drawing illustrating the geology of lakes Dissolved in lake waters a large number of calcite, crystals of this substance settle on the roots of living trees and dead trunks that have fallen into the lake, contributing to the petrification of the latter.
Limestone deposits on plant roots Numerous schools of undeterred fish swim in the clear water of the lakes right under your feet.
Fish in the lakes, a bridge is visible in the lower left corner Waterfalls burst right from under your feet with a roar. In general, a picture of fantastic beauty surrounds you from all sides.
Waterfall, you can see the board from the walkway in the center The photo below clearly shows the walkways and the people on them. There were a lot of people in August. In some places there were traffic jams on the walkways. After all, you want to take pictures next to each waterfall, so you have to wait until the previous people are satisfied and move on and you will have the opportunity to take their place.
Bridges and waterfall underfoot 
Estimate the crowds, this is approximately the case on the entire route A Route A, although the most crowded with people, is also the most picturesque.
At the end of route A there was a queue waiting for us, this time people were standing to board the boat and cross big lake Kozjak. We spent an hour there. You can take turns standing, part of the family wanders through the souvenir shops and cools their tired feet in the lake, and the person in charge guards the line, then you can change.
Queue to board the boat Near the pier there are several cafes and stalls where you will be offered sandwiches and fries with meat at outrageous prices. This the only place in the park, where you can have a snack, the rest of the cafes are located outside the park at the official entrances.
Catering establishments - fast food Tickets to the park are checked upon boarding the boat. At this point, we can say that route A practically ends. You can get off the boat at the first stop and continue your walk through the park, exploring the upper lakes, or you can get off at the second stop and you will be taken to the ENTRANCE2 entrance, there you can take the bus-train and go to the entrance ENTRANCE1. This will complete the inspection of the lakes. Group excursions They only take this route.
Ships We decided to continue our walk along the upper lakes. It was already less crowded there. You won’t be able to see anything fundamentally new on route C; everything there is the same as in the lower part of the park - waterfalls, cascading lakes with turquoise water. There we saw violators who swam despite the prohibitions. No park employees were seen. Below are photos of the upper lakes.
Upper Lakes Upper Lakes Waterfalls 
Bridges and waterfalls 
Wild cyclomena We walked along the upper lakes faster; we spent about 2 hours on the entire walk along route C; route A took us 4 hours due to the crowds and the queue for the boat. Having reached the ST3 bus station, we boarded the bus-train and headed to the parking lot. The crowd at the stop was huge; not everyone managed to get on the approaching bus. This strange vehicle drove us all the time down a very narrow path between rocks on one side and an abyss on the other, it was scary in places, in the middle of the way it pressed against the cliff to let a similar train go up to the ST3 station.
Bus-train and crowds of tired tourists To say that we really liked Plitvice Lakes would be an understatement. Plitvica is simple fabulous place extraordinary beauty. Don’t be upset if you only have the opportunity to visit it in the fall or winter, you will get your charge of positive emotions at any time of the year, but in the summer you need to be mentally prepared for the fact that another 10,000 people will be walking around the park with you.
Tired and full of impressions, we went to the store and then to our apartment. The vacation was inexorably coming to an end, the next day we had a big drive towards home according to plan. In the next article I will tell you about the Czech city of Olomouc, which has caused mixed emotions.
The uniqueness of this national park has long attracted the attention of filmmakers: films about the Apache leader Winnetou from the novels of the German writer Karl May were shot in Plitvice Lakes, for example, the film “Treasures of the Silver Lake” (1962).
In the spring of 1991, the lakes became the site of armed clashes between Serbs and Croats. Those events went down in history under the name “Plitvice Bloody Easter”. During the Yugoslav War, Plitvice Lakes more than once became the scene of battles. Now the territory of the national park is completely cleared of mines and is safe.
Plitvice Lakes is visited annually by about 1 million tourists per year. The Croatian government carefully preserves the unique nature of these places: only environmentally friendly modes of transport are allowed in the park: electric trains, ferries and electric pleasure boats, as well as bicycles. The issue of replacing all wooden bridges with pontoon (air-filled) crossings is currently being considered. It is strictly forbidden to swim in the lakes of the park, as well as to have picnics, make fires, and bring dogs.
In addition to the lakes, national park you can walk through pristine beech and fir forests. The following animals live in the park: brown bears, lynxes, ferrets, hedgehogs, hares, weasels, martens, foxes, badgers, wolves, otters, deer, roe deer, wild boars, etc. Over 120 species of birds have also been recorded in this area. The lakes are rich in fish.
Plitvice Lakes are interesting to visit at any time of the year. For example, in winter you can go skiing and admire the frozen waterfalls. The closest airports to Plitvice Lakes are in Zagreb, Rijeka and Zadar.
Undoubtedly, Plitvice Lakes (in Croatian Plitvička jezera) in Croatia it is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and the world, which captivates the hearts of tourists at first sight with its untouched beauty and majesty. Many people think this is wonderful national park in the center of Croatia, heaven on earth, which delights tourists with its mountainous terrain, a cascade of lakes that are connected by waterfalls, under which caves are hidden, and wild animals walk through the forest. Since 1979, Plitvice Lakes Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Where are Plitvice Lakes located?
Plitvice Lakes are located in central Croatia, mostly (90%) in Licko-Senj and lesser (10%) in Karlovac County in the north-west of the Dinaric Highlands. The nearest town is Slunj.
For your comfort We have marked Plitvice Lakes on the map below. Read how to get to Plitvice Lakes at the end of the article.
History of the formation of Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice Lakes were created by nature itself without human intervention. The turbulent flows of the Koran River for many years made their way through the limestone rock, forming natural dams, travertine barriers, picturesque waterfalls, transparent lakes and mysterious caves.
Plitvec Lakes Park
This is not only the largest, but also most old park in Croatia. The name "Plitvice Lakes" was first discovered in church records dating back to 1777. It was not always possible to visit the park freely; until 1958, it was not accessible to tourists due to the lack of hiking trails.
The Yugoslav wars in 1991 also affected the Plitvice Lakes park. Fighting took place on its territory. Now the park has been cleared of mines and the infrastructure has been restored.
Scientists are still puzzling over whether what is the nature of origin of Plitvice Lakes, therefore, various legends begin to appear among the people. We will share one of them with you.
The Legend of Plitvice Lakes
Locals they tell the amazing legend about the “Black Queen”, who asked the sky to send rain to her land during the drought. Hearing the request, the sky responded and rainwater filled the Plitvice Lakes.
Also, here there is a belief that Plitvice Lakes will exist until at least one bear walks on this earth.
Description of Plitvice Lakes Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park covers an area of 29,482 hectares. Most high point Mount Mala Kapela is considered, the peak of which is at an altitude of 1280 meters, and the lowest is located at 450 meters above sea level.
You enter Plitvice Lakes Park from above and go down along a winding path. Around every next turn another one awaits you. amazing landscape, which brings diversity to mountains, waterfalls, lakes surrounded by rocks and many representatives of flora and fauna.
Lakes
Plitvec Lakes The park contains many small and 16 large lakes, which are located in cascade, forming a distance from the upper lake to the lower one of 133 meters. The lakes are amazingly clean and have a beautiful azure color. The biggest and the most deep lake Kozyak (Kozjak), its depth is 46 meters, its area is 81.5 hectares, and its length exceeds 3 kilometers. The next largest lake is Proščansko jezero, Prošće, its depth reaches 37 meters, its area is 68 hectares, and it stretches for 2.5 kilometers. It completes the three largest lakes in the Galovac park with an area of 12.5 hectares. These three lakes occupy an area of 162 hectares, which is 75% of the entire water area (217 hectares) of the park, and they stretch for 8 kilometers.
The lakes are surrounded by limestone mountains and originate from the rivers Crna (Black) and Bela (White), which among the mountains join into the river Matica, which in turn forms the first waterfall. The rivers Plitvica, Riječica and Korana are also responsible for filling the lakes with water; above the valley of the latter there is an excellent Observation deck which offers stunning views. The lakes are closely interconnected by many waterfalls, passing columns of water to each other along a chain.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls in the park You will definitely be amazed by its appearance 140 waterfalls, which only increase in number every year due to the fact that water erodes the rocky rock and makes new paths for itself.
The main waterfalls are Velike Kaskade, Kozjački, Batinovački, Milanovački, Galovački, Milke Trnine. Rightfully the most beautiful and the most famous waterfall here is Sastavci, which brings down the water of the Korana and Plitvica rivers, which feed it, in a powerful stream from a height of 72 meters.
Caves
Fans of speleology in Plitvice Lakes Park will find as many 32 caves, the most interesting of which are located under the waterfalls. The most famous here are three caves: Crna pećina, Golubnjača (165 meters long) and Šupljara, which means “cave without floor and ceiling” or “hole cave”. Evidence of ancient people living here has been found in the caves.
Forests
Lakes surrounded by forest Also in the park there is coniferous and unique beech forests. If you want to get into the thickets, then you will most likely be interested in the mixed forest in the town of Čorkova uvala, which is located in the northwestern part of the Plitvice Lakes Park. Total in the park there are 1267 plant species, of which 75 you can meet only here. Forests play an important role in protecting soil from erosion, influencing climate and hydrology, and participating in oxygen production and carbon storage (greenhouse gases).
The forest is not cleaned here, and trees and branches that have fallen into the water will soon be turn into new natural barriers, forming new lakes and waterfalls.
Animals
Fish in the lake When it comes to the animals that live in the local forests, I immediately remember Brown bear, which is placed on the park logo. It has the largest population of brown bears in Europe. In the forest you can also meet wolves, forest cats, lynxes, roe deer, red deer, wild boars, badgers, squirrels, pine martens, river otters, dormouse, hedgehogs and other animals (about 200 species), as well as many birds of which there are more than 155 species. Trout swim in the lakes and other types of fish that have long been accustomed to tourists, who happily feed them with bread. Deserves special attention and large population of butterflies, of which there are about 320 species, of which 75 are diurnal.
Climate
From the Adriatic Sea, humid sea air enters the Plitvice Lakes Park. Average annual air temperature is 8.7 °C, in summer it stays at 25-30 °C and only in rainy days drops to 15 °C. The water temperature in summer reaches 24 °C. In winter, in January and February, the lakes are frozen with ice, and the winter itself lasts from November to March.
Movement
Paths in Plitvec Lakes There are paths throughout the national park and wooden floors that are comfortable to walk on. You can move around the park not only on foot, but also on electric road trains, pleasure boats and ferries (via the largest lake, Kozyak), which do not pollute the environment - they are environmentally friendly. By choosing to travel by vehicle, you will save your energy and see a lot more, but then you will be deprived of the opportunity to look into the most secluded corners of the park, so the choice is yours.
Not all of the park is open to tourists.— only rangers can enter the protected area. The rest of the park is free for movement and equipped with benches for rest and trash cans. The largest number of tourists here is, of course, observed in summer time, but April, May, September and October are much less popular.
Cleanest air beautiful scenery of mountain lakes with waterfalls you are guaranteed. Come to Croatia to see this natural wonder with your own eyes and take amazing photographs. If a tour to Europe is beyond your means, then for you the most beautiful landscapes Plitvice lakes in photographs.
Safety Warning
Found in forests a lot of wild animals, therefore, be careful and it is better not to leave specially marked paths in order to avoid encounters with predators.
Film "Plitvice - the land of falling lakes"
We invite you to look film made about Plitvice Lakes National Park, thanks to which you will see all those corners where tourists usually don’t go, get to know all the inhabitants of the park and see it at different times of the year.
How to get to Plitvice Lakes
| By bus You can get from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes in about 2-2.5 hours. There are about 10 flights a day starting at 7:30 am with an interval of 30 minutes to 2 hours. | |
| By car to Plitvice Lakes Park You can get there from Zagreb (134 km) along the A1 highway (it is toll, approximate cost 83 kuna) or D1. From the city of Rijeka (169 km) the E65 highway leads here, and from Zadar (132 km) - E71. Also, Plitvice Lakes can be reached from Split (256 km), Dubrovnik (454 km), Osijek (419 km), Pula (275 km). From coastal resorts by car the drive is approximately 3-4 hours. Along the way, you will come across quite a few road signs that point to the exits (there are several of them) to the Plitvice Lakes (marked as Plitvicka Jezera). |
Many travel agencies throughout Europe organize tours to Plitvice Lakes Park. You can book a tour with them.
Routes around Plitvice Lakes Park
To begin with, it must be said that There are 2 entrances to Plitvet Lakes Park- upper and lower (ST1 and ST2), most routes start from the second entrance.
Total for the park 7 routes, which are designated by Latin letters (A, B, C, E, F, H, K) and are accompanied by special signs. All routes have different lengths and accordingly designed for different times (from 2 to 8 hours). If you have any questions, you can safely contact the park employees who are on duty there.
First route (A)
Duration: 2-3 hours
The route starts from the northern entrance to the park (ST1). This is a sightseeing circular route with a visit to the Great Waterfall and Šupljara Cave, as well as canyons and lakes “Novakovića Brod”, “Kaluđerovac”, “Gavanovac” and “Milanovac”. The route ends at the Kozjačka Draga recreation area on Lake Kozjak.
Second route (B)
Duration: 3-4 hours
The route starts from entrance ST1 and forms a circle, including a visit to the limestone canyon of the Lower Lakes, an electric ferry ride across the largest lake, Kozjak, a panoramic electric train ride and a walk along the upper eastern part of the canyon. Of course you will see Big waterfall(Great Waterfall) and the Sastavci waterfall and the lakes Novakovića Brod, Kaluđerovac, Gavanovac, Milanovac. The route ends where it begins, at ST1.
Third route (C)
Duration: 4-6 hours
Like previous routes, route C starts from entrance ST1 and stretches across the lower and upper lakes, including an electric ferry ride and a train ride on the return trip. You will see the largest waterfalls, including “Great Waterfall”, “Veliki Prštavac” and “Mali Prštavac” and many small ones.
Fourth route (E)
Duration: 2-3 hours
Start of the route from entrance ST2 and stretches in a circle through the upper lakes. Crossing numerous bridges you will enjoy views of stunningly beautiful lakes and of course the “Great Waterfall”, “Veliki Prštavac” and “Mali Prštavac” waterfalls. And at the end you will have a panoramic train ride to the starting point of the route.
Fifth route (F)
Duration: 3-4 hours
The route starts from the south entrance of ST2. First, you will take an electric boat ride on Lake Kozjak, which will take you to the limestone canyon of the upper lakes and the “Great Waterfall”. From there the path goes to east side canyon through very sharp turn, where stunning views of crystal clear lakes and high cliffs open up. The way back is covered by an electric panoramic train.
Route 6 (N)
Duration: 4-6 hours
The route starts from entrance ST2. After a short walk and the panoramic train ride will take you on foot along the upper lakes, a boat ride through Lake Kozjak and through the canyon of the lower lakes on the way to the “Great Waterfall”, which is located at the top of the canyon on the east side. Then you will again have a train ride right up to the very end of the route.
Seventh route (K)
Duration: 6-8 hours
This route passes through inputs ST1 and ST2, so you can start in any place convenient for you. Length walking route 14 kilometers and it is designed for almost the whole day, during which you can visit almost all the sights of the Plitvice Lakes. This is the longest and highest route, which will give you the most complete impression of the park and you will thoroughly enjoy the local beauty. The route goes through ups and downs along mountain paths around fabulously beautiful lakes. Considering that the time it takes to complete the route is quite long, we advise you to arrange an overnight stay in the nearest hotel or apartment in advance.
Whichever of these seven routes you choose, stunning views and a lot of impressions are guaranteed.
Infrastructure
In the Plitvice Lakes area (within a radius of 10 kilometers) there are quite a few hotels(more than two dozen) of different classes and price categories (from cheap to luxury) where you can stay. The nearest hotels are located a kilometer from the national park, which allows you to get from the hotel to this earthly paradise in 5-10 minutes.
On the territory of the park there are a dozen restaurants and cafes, therefore, you will feel quite comfortable even if you forget to take something to eat with you.
What to do in the park
You can take a rowing boat and swim on Lake Kozyak, climb Mount Medvezhak, ride mountain biking, and in winter on alpine skiing and sleigh in the nearest village of Mukine.
Or maybe you don’t need all this entertainment, but you want hold your wedding here? No problem! Just contact the administration by phone: +385 053 751 125 and order this service. We are sure that none of your friends had such a wedding!
Conditions and rules for visiting Plitvice Lakes Park
The park is open to the public every day according to the following schedule:
In summer - from 7:00 to 20:00
In spring and autumn - from 8:00 to 18:00
In winter - from 8:00 to 16:00
Please note that the entrance to the Plitvec Lakes area is ST2 is only open from April until the end of October.
Entrance to the park is paid. It is possible to pay for a visit either for one day or for two days. Payment can be made either in cash or bank cards. The ticket price already includes a ferry crossing across the lake and panoramic train services. If you decide to stay at one of the park hotels, you will have a very convenient benefit - you can absolutely free multiple renewals of your one-day ticket contact the hotel administrator (we recommend checking the availability of this option when booking the hotel). You do not need to book the tickets in advance, but if you are traveling in a group, it is advisable to do so.
Ticket price for 1 day(as of 2014)
* the group must contain at least 15 people, the price is per person
** during this period of time the ferry and the tourist electric train do not operate, so you will have to walk around the park on foot
Ticket price for 2 days(as of 2014)
Tour of the park Plitvec Lakes will cost 1,000 - 1,500 kuna (depending on the choice of excursion duration of 4 or 6 hours). You can book a tour in 6 languages(Croatian, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish).
You will also have to pay for parking: passenger car - 7 kn/hour, with a trailer or larger ones vehicles- 70 kn/day, but motorcyclists are fabulously lucky - free.
For that, to find out the exact current ticket price you can call the sales office: +385 0 53 751 014 or +385 0 53 751 015
Information signs Swimming in lakes is prohibited just like lighting a fire, putting up tents, having picnics, listening to loud music, disturbing and feeding animals, throwing garbage, bringing animals without a leash, fishing, picking plants - everything that can harm the surrounding nature. You can visit the park with dogs, but only with a leash. Such strict rules are well justified. the need to preserve this is very beautiful place Croatia. The swimming ban came into force in 2008 due to the high number of drownings.
Plitvice National Park National Park) in Croatia is considered one of the most beautiful natural attractions in Europe. Because of my natural beauty and significance, in 1949 this system of 16 interconnected lakes and the large forest complex around it were designated as a national park. In 1979, the park was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
general information
Landscape
The lakes are located on the Plitvice plateau of the same name, between the mountains Lička Plješevica (peak 1,640 m - Gornja Plješevica), Small Capella (peak 1,280 m - Seliški Vrh) and Medveđak (884 m). Sixteen lakes are divided into two groups: upper and lower, formed by streams of water flowing from the mountains from a height of 636 to 503 meters, covering a distance of about 8 kilometers, oriented from south to north. Together the lakes cover an area of about two square kilometers, with the lowest lake giving rise to the Korana River.
Plitvice Lakes lie in a basin of karst rock, composed mainly of dolomite and limestone, which gives the lakes their distinctive character. The lakes are separated by natural dams of travertine, which is deposited by moss, algae and bacteria. Encrusted plants and bacteria accumulate on top of each other, forming travertine barriers that grow at a rate of about 1 cm per year.
The lakes are famous for their distinctive colors, ranging from azure to green, gray or blue. The colors change constantly, depending on the amount of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of the sun's rays.
The lakes are divided into 12 upper lakes (Gornja jezera) and four lower lakes.
Flora and fauna
Plitvice Lakes National Park is rich in dense forests, mainly beech, spruce and fir, and a mixture of alpine and Mediterranean vegetation. The park has a particularly high diversity of plant communities due to its varying microclimates, different soils, and varying elevation levels.
This area is also inhabited by many species of animals and birds. Here you can find how rare species animals: brown bear, wolf, eagle, owl, lynx, wild cat, capercaillie, and more common species. At least 126 species of birds have been recorded, 70 of which are recorded as having bred at the site.
How to get there
If you ask the driver in advance, the buses will stop at the entrance to the National Park (the cost from Zadar is 83 kuna, from Zagreb 92 kuna). Keep in mind that buses in Croatia often do not run according to schedule. They may arrive earlier or later, and they may stand long enough to pick up tourists and then continue on their way. Especially in a place like Plitvice Lakes, where, judging by the route, the stop is quite a long distance away, go to the stop in advance and plan to wait a while.
When coming from Zadar, the bus driver can stop at the South Entrance, which is about 4 km from the main entrance and is very small. In case you book a hotel room near the main entrance, you must ask the driver to stop at the main entrance of the park. If you don't ask, you'll have to call a taxi.
Private bus companies such as Pruevoz Knezevic can operate day trips from Zadar, although it is always advisable to wait at the stop until the appointed time to ensure that the driver does not leave you. Tickets for these buses can be booked in advance from the main bus station.
From Zagreb and Zadar private taxis cost approximately 170 euros.
From Zagreb, a day tour to Plitvice Lakes can be arranged with travel agency cities . A 4-seater car picks you up from your hotel and brings you back at a time that suits you. Cost - 750 kn (100 euros). Not only is it a round trip, you can also stop at your favorite attractions such as the village of Radstoke - a beautiful village in a gorge 20 km from Plitvice Lakes where you can enjoy fresh and delicious fish.
By plane
Clue:
Plitvice Lakes - the time is now
Hour difference:
Moscow 1
Kazan 1
Samara 2
Ekaterinburg 3
Novosibirsk 5
Vladivostok 8
When is the season? When is the best time to go
Clue:
Plitvice Lakes - weather by month
What are the prices for holidays?
A ticket is required to enter the park (there are ticket offices on the way to the park entrance). The tickets also entitle you to free boat rides on the lakes. Be careful: the journey is long during the season!
The ticket price for non-students is 110 kuna for one day or 180 for two days in the off-season. During the season - 180 kuna per day. Students - 80 kuna per day. An ISIC or other student ID is required for the discount. For more information about prices in different times year and parking, check out the list of prices.
Currency exchange
Uses Croatian kuna. There are official currency exchange offices at both entrances to the park. They work from 7.00 to 19.00. They provide extremely competitive rates with a minimal commission (1.5%). It is recommended to contact them. Most foreign currencies are accepted: dollar, euro, pounds sterling, Hong Kong dollar, Swiss franc, Australian dollar, etc. Most tourist spots accept euros anyway.
Main attractions. What to see
Plitvice Lakes National Park is perhaps the most beautiful natural wonder in Croatia. In addition to the numerous waterfalls, wildlife can be seen including fish, frogs and various types birds. Special attractions in the national park include the 100-foot Veliki Slap waterfall, surrounded by nearby boulders that tourists can step on. There is also a large complex of waterfalls, which can be accessed through a cave in the rock.
What to see in the area
Buses from the park go to, but infrequently out of season. Check the schedule before you make the 5-hour hike into the park or you'll have to spend the night there. Bus schedules are available at the entrance to the park or in hotels near the bus stop.
Taxi drivers wait near the bus station and will offer a ride at the same price as a bus if about 10 people want to take a taxi. The cost is the same, travel time is shorter, and most won't charge you extra for luggage (buses do charge extra). If you are going to the ferry terminal, ask the driver to stop there.
There are buses that go from Grabovac (near Plitvice National Park) to Bihak, Bosnia. Since July 21, 2013, the bus departs from Grabovac at 13.25 every day (except Sundays, departure at 12.25) and arrives in Bihak in approximately 45 minutes, including border crossing. Be careful: signs posted in Plitvice National Park do not take into account the different departure times on Sunday. On Sundays there is also a bus that leaves from Grabovac at approximately 16.15.
Food. What to try
In addition to the snack bars at the entrance and exit of the park, there is a large picnic area with various food stands accessible by ferry across the main lake.
Safety. What to watch out for
The trails are well laid out and signposted. Please follow the rules during your stay, such as not disturbing the environment and staying on the path.
It's worth noting that this area is one of the few in Europe where bears still roam. You'll probably find the bear encounter interesting, but you may frighten the mother and her cub, which can be dangerous. The lone bear is more scared than you. Avoid anything that might make a loud sound and the bear will almost always run away. Bears can run and climb much faster than you. Running is a signal to them that you are prey, so don't run.
Things to do
The main activity is undoubtedly hiking and walks around the park. Please be aware that swimming is prohibited anywhere in the park.
Advice. If you arrive at the same time as a larger group, follow one of the well-marked trails on your way back. You'll probably be walking uphill for most of the time, but most likely won't see another soul for a few hours.
But during peak season, expect huge crowds on the narrow path, regardless of the direction of the path. There are some trails off the beaten path, but you need to have plenty of time to spare if you plan to take advantage of them. Otherwise, you just need to arrive early and avoid long paths where there are usually a lot of people.
Shopping and shops
There are souvenir shops at the main entrance to the park.
How to move around the territory?
You can choose from several paths around the lake, which vary in time and difficulty. A full exploration of the park can be done on Trail H in 4 - 5 hours (3.5 if you walk vigorously), but you won't want to rush, you will enjoy the walk. The view is simply breathtaking. Some routes have boat transfers and bus transfers (free) to save you time.
Keep your entry ticket in hand because they will stamp the boat when you board.
The paths are well paved. They consist of wooden planks, gravel, stones and steps.
Disabled people can also use most of the trails, but there are some difficult areas with steps and slopes.
About the lakes | How to get there | Routes along the Plitvice Lakes | All about Croatia
Plitvice Lakes are located in the central part of Croatia, which allows them to be visited by tourists vacationing in Northern Dalmatia, Istria and Central Dalmatia. Although the distance from popular resorts From these regions to the beautiful oasis is quite large (150-300 km), Plitvice Lakes is still “on horseback”. A whole complex of lakes with magnificent waterfalls and lush vegetation formed the Plitvice Lakes National Park. This place looks like something out of a movie fairyland, where elves live, so don’t miss the chance to see them with your own eyes when you vacation in Croatia.In this note I will tell and give useful links about how to get to the national park, how much it costs, whether there are excursions and, of course, I will post many, many photographs.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is surrounded by forests and mountains, which were once called the “devil's forests”. Local residents were wary of these places and tried not to hunt there or cut down trees. And who would have thought that 16 beautiful lakes are formed in a high mountain valley, and even with magnificent waterfalls? Unreal blue water with green shades, lush vegetation and roaring waterfalls look so that it’s hard to believe that all this was created by nature, all this is real, without 3D graphics and special effects.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is the largest and most popular in Croatia, and is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The cascades of lakes form two large groups: the Upper Lakes and the Lower Lakes. The mountains in this part of Croatia consist mainly of limestone, so a large amount of this element is dissolved in the mountain river and lakes. By the way, the surprisingly bright color of the water in Plitvice Lakes is precisely because of the limestone. In addition, there are many calcephiles, chalky plants that naturally form dense calcium deposits. It is not for nothing that branches, sticks and plants that have fallen into the water are not removed from the territory of the Plitvice Lakes; this is prohibited. After all, thanks to a natural process, they petrify and form growths of several centimeters per year.
And as soon as this growth becomes a decent barrier on the path of a mountain river, the power of the water makes small holes in the porous rock, and a waterfall is obtained. In the park great amount waterfalls of different heights and power, no one even counts them, because almost every year nature forms a new one.
Plitvice Lakes National Park is spread out over steps on a hill. The highest lake (Proschansko Lake) is located at an altitude of more than 600 meters from sea level, and the lowest (Novakovica Brod) is 133 meters below sea level. The largest lake in the park is called Kozjak. To get around it on foot, it will take about two hours (that is why, on routes along the Plitvice Lakes, this lake is crossed by boat).
The Plitvice Lakes Park begins from small mountain rivers - Crna and Bela, which merge into one river Matitsa and form the first waterfall.
In addition to lakes in the park there are many mysterious caves, the most famous of which are Golubnyacha and Mratsna. During the Croatian War of Independence, fighting took place in the Plitvice Lakes area. The armies of both sides used the Plitvice Lakes caves for shelter, and many mines were hidden in the park. Fortunately, the mines did not damage such a natural wonder, but the sappers had to work hard before opening the reserve to visitors. They say that people still find mines in the surrounding forests, so tourist routes I don’t recommend deviating.
Surprisingly, brown bears live in the Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve. This animal is held in high esteem here, because legend says that Plitvice Lakes will exist as long as at least one brown bear is alive. Scientists are studying the bear population; there are areas in the reserve where tourists are prohibited from entering.
There are strict visiting rules at Plitvice Lakes. You can't make fires or have picnics here, you can't walk dogs without a leash, you can't throw anything into the water or bring branches from it, etc. You cannot swim or walk outside the paved bridges and paths. The lakes are not cleaned and fallen branches are not removed for the reason described above. And even the panoramic train and boat are driven by an electric motor so as not to pollute the surrounding environment.
