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Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice Lakes 2 km away
Southeast Europe’s oldest National Park, and one of the first natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Plitvice Lakes National Park is a gem among gems. Located in the central part of Croatia, very close to the Bosnian border, Plitvice is the most spectacular and famous of the region’s limestone karst formations. Each year, more than one million visitors come here to rusticate, recreate, and simply to witness the area’s unique beauty.
At Plitvice the main attraction is 16 lakes, oriented roughly on a North-South axis. These lakes are better thought of as a comprehensive system, rather than as separate entities. Through an elegant and rather complex process involving the dissolution of dolomite and limestone rock by the water, and the subsequent sedimentation of these particles onto naturally occurring vegetation, the erosion process which would typically have cut a continuous river system has been somewhat suspended and has resulted in this unique and picturesque system of lakes.
Plitvice Lakes are known just as much for their crystal clear water as for the scenic waterfalls between them. The combination of such purity with such dramatic natural energy is guaranteed to evoke awe and wonderment from even the most seasoned or cynical visitor. This place has long been considered special. Ever since the first people saw Plitvice there have been stories and myths popping up about her origins and purpose. Although millions of people enjoy Plitvice every year, the delicately balanced environment is kept as pristine as humanly possible… this is accomplished via exceptionally strict regulations from park rangers.
