Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes National Park is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Croatia. It was created in 1949 and is located in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The park is famous for its beautiful series of tufa lakes, caves, and waterfalls.

In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list because of its special and picturesque landscapes. The park covers an area of 296.85 km² (114.61 sq mi), with most of it in Lika-Senj County and a smaller part in Karlovac County.

An important road passes through the park, connecting the inland areas of Croatia with the beautiful Adriatic coast. This makes Plitvice Lakes National Park not only a natural wonder but also a key place for travel and exploration in the region.

Area

The national park has lakes arranged like steps, with sixteen lakes visible from above. These lakes are famous for their beautiful colors, which can be blue, green, grey, or azure. The colors change all the time based on the minerals in the water, tiny living things, and the angle of the sun.

Etymology

The name Plitvice was first written down in 1777 by Dominik Vukasović, who was a priest in the town of Otočac. The name comes from the natural way the lakes were formed. Over time, water filled shallow basins in the land, changing the limestone and creating beautiful landscapes. As the water flowed, it built up travertine barriers that slowed the water down, and these barriers keep growing taller each year.

Location

Routes and distances

Plitvice Lakes National Park covers an area of 296.85 km². It is split between two parts of Croatia, mostly in Lika-Senj County and a smaller part in Karlovac County. The park has two big lakes, Prošćansko jezero and Kozjak, which are also the deepest, measuring 37 meters and 47 meters deep respectively.

Topography and geology

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is surrounded by mountains. To the west is Mala Kapela, and to the east is Lička Plješivica, which is also the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The park sits on a plateau surrounded by three mountains that are part of the Dinaric Alps: Lička Plješivica, Mala Kapela, and Medveđak. These mountains help create many different habitats for wildlife.

The lakes begin where the Bijela Rijeka and Crna Rijeka rivers meet. After this point, the water is called Matica. Some smaller rivers and springs also flow into the lakes, adding to the water supply.

The park’s underground is made mostly of two types of rock. The upper lakes are mainly dolomite, which is a bit harder but lets less water through. The lower lakes are mainly limestone, which is more solid but allows more water to pass through.

Climate

The Plitvice Lakes get a lot of rain, about 1,500 mm (59 in) each year, especially in spring and fall. The air is usually quite wet, with humidity around 81.8 percent. In January, temperatures are cold, averaging 2.2 °C (36 °F), and snow can fall between November and March, often freezing the lakes in December and January. By summer, in July and August, it warms up to about 17.4 °C (63 °F). The average temperature for the whole year is 7.9 °C (46 °F).

The dissolution and creation of rock

The lakes of Plitvice are formed by natural processes that have been happening for centuries. Water in this area contains lots of chalk, which comes from the rocks. When this water moves and changes, it leaves behind special kinds of rock called tufa or travertine.

These rocks form because of the way water moves through the limestone. Over thousands of years, the water dissolves some of the limestone and then drops it again elsewhere, creating barriers and shapes we see today. Plants and mosses also help shape these rocks by giving the water places to slow down and drop the chalk. This makes the lakes and waterfalls look the way they do.

Cellular rock	Porous rock that has been exposed to external effects, for example rainwater (dolomite or limestone)
Tufa	Sedimentations of minerals from the water that typically consolidate on moss or on the underground of the lakes. These sediments are the results of century-old sedimentation processes. Year after year, new layers of sediments are being added.
Travertine	Consolidated tufa. Older, hardened sediments. This porous type of rock is very sensitive to physical impacts.

Biodiversity

Scientists have identified many plant and animal species in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Some plants grow only in this area, and many are protected by law. There are also many types of trees, including very old beech and fir trees.

The park is home to animals such as the brown bear, grey wolf, and Eurasian eagle owl. Many types of butterflies and moths live here, along with several kinds of frogs, lizards, and turtles. Birds are also common, and there are different kinds of fish in the lakes, including special types of brown trout.

History

Main article: History of Croatia

In the 6th century, Avars and Croats settled in the region. Later, the Croats built a monastery at the lakes, though only wall remnants remain today. Over time, many people from different places moved to the area, including refugees and military workers.

In the late 1800s, the Plitvice Lakes began to welcome travelers. A special house was built for visitors, and paths were made for tours. Important meetings happened here during World War II. By 1979, the lakes were recognized as a special natural site by UNESCO for their beautiful waterfalls and lakes.

The park became very popular with tourists, especially in the 1980s. However, in the early 1990s, the area faced difficult times during a conflict. Today, the park works hard to protect its natural beauty and manage the number of visitors to keep the lakes clean and safe.

Year	Number of visitors
1894	1,000
1989	500,000
1996	238,401
2000	482,275
2004	749,209
2008	948,891
2011	1,083,638
2014	1,184,449
2016	1,429,228
2024	1,492,994

Local customs and traditions

The people in this area care a lot about keeping their old customs and traditions alive. These traditions are also important for visitors who come to the region as tourists. One special thing about the area of Lika is the wooden houses with roofs made from rye straw or shingles. Local costumes show much about where people come from and their social status. During a time when France ruled the area, men were even allowed to wear these special costumes when they served in the military.

Lake names and anecdotes

Each of the Plitvice Lakes has its own story or legend. Many of the lake names come from real events that happened there.

Lake	Other names	Approximate translation	Explanation
Prošćansko jezero	Prošće	Scrub Lake or Crave Lake	The name comes from the fences that have been built by farmers as delimitation between the farmlands and the lakes. The farmers used stakes (Croatian prošće), poles, scrub and earth to build these fences. The Legend of the Black Queen, the legend on "prošnja" (praying the black Queen for water) says that the inhabitants of this region were craving for water and thus called upon the magic queen to help them, which she did. According to the legend, this is the reason why Prošćansko jezero and the other lakes have emerged.
Ciginovac	Cigino jezero Ciganovac jezero	Gypsy's Lake	According to a legend, a Roma (gypsy) drowned in this lake while fishing.
Okrugljak	Okruglić Okrugljaj Kruginovac	Round Lake	The name stems from its round shape.
Batinovac	Batin Bakinovac	Lake Batin/Batić's Lake	People reported that a villager named Batinić used to dwell at this lake. Others say that a grandmother (Croatian baka) might have drowned in this lake.
Veliko jezero	Jovinovac veliki	Large Lake
Malo jezero	Jovinovac mali Veliko jezerce	Small Lake
Vir		Whirlpool	The name originates from water whirling downward in the middle of the lake.
Galovac		Galov's/Galović's Lake	Allegedly, a bandit chief named captain Gal, who defeated the Turks, was shot down at this lake. It could also have been named after a brig and Galović.
Milinovo jezero	Milino Jezerce	Mile's Lake	According to a legend, a man named Mile Mirić from Mirić Stropina drowned in this lake.
Gradinsko jezero	Jezerce Jezerac	Lake Gradina	The lake is named after a building (Croatian gradina) or monastery which had once been situated on the peak between Kozjak lake and this one.
Burgeti	Burgeti Bugeti	Gush Lakes	A chain of small shallow lakes separated by travertine barriers, and covered by low vegetation. The name comes from agitated waterflow in small scars which make noise or "boil".
Kozjak	Kozje Jezero	Goat Lake	On the island in the middle of the lake (today Štefanijin otok, Stephanie's Lake) farmers used to protect their goats from wolves. The name originates from a legend, according to which 30 young goats were running away from wolves during winter. They drowned in the lake as the thin ice layer cracked.
Milanovac	Milanovo Jezero	Milan's Lake	According to a legend, the lake was named after a shepherd called Mile who drowned in it, or after the miller Mile Perišić who owned a mill at the lake.
Gavanovac	Gavanovo Jezero Osredak Jezero Okrugljak Donji	Gavan's Lake	Allegedly, the treasure of a man named Gavan (the Gavanovo treasure) lies hidden in this lake.
Kaluđerovac	Kaluđerovo Jezero	Monk Lake or Hermit Lake	According to reports, a monk or hermit (Croatian kaluđer) used to live either in Šupljara Cave just next to the water or in Golubnjača Cave at the canyon edge. People used to seek advice from this monk.
Novakovića brod		Novaković's crossing	According to a tale, a hajduk named Novaković was thrown off his horse into this lake. Other reports say that a man named Novaković used to offer boat rides across this lake.

Waterfalls

Many waterfalls can be found in the Plitvice area. Some of them are Jarkuše, between the Ciginovac and Okrugljak lakes, and Labudovački slap, between Prošćansko jezero and Ciginovac. Others include Labudovac, Mali Prštavac, Veliki Prštavac, and several named falls between Galovac and Milino and Gradinsko jezero. There is also the Milka Trnina Waterfall between Milanovac and Gavanovac, Sastavci between Novakovića Brod and the Plitvica/Korana rivers, and Plitvica or Veliki slap, meaning 'Big Waterfall', on the Plitvica stream. Additionally, there are four waterfalls on the Korana river further downstream.