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Home , Biokovo, Lonjsko Polje, Medvednica, Nature park, Pakra, Papuk

Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Parks in the Republic of . In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, , 82-92. NATURE PARKS IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Brankica Cigrovski-Detelić, Dražen Tutić, Dino Udovičić , Faculty of geodesy Kačićeva 26, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract Environmental protection, the preservation of biological and diversity, and rational usage of natural resources and energy in the most convenient way are the basic conditions of healthy life and the fundament of a sustainable development of every country. The nature and natural values are of great interest for the Republic of Croatia, and they are particularly protected, which is also legally regulated. There are altogether 11 nature parks in the Republic of Croatia: , Kopački rit, , , , Telašćica, , Vranko Lake and Učka. The paper presents the particularities and geographic position of all Croatian nature parks.

Key words: , natural resources, environmental protection

1. INTRODUCTION Nature Park is, according to the Environmental Protection Act of the Republic of Croatia (National Gazette 162/03) regionally natural or partly cultivated land and/or sea area with ecological properties of international or national significance, with emphasized landscape, educational, cultural and historical, and tourist and recreation values. In the Republic of Croatia there are altogether 11 nature parks: Nature Park Biokovo, Nature Par Kopački rit, Nature Park Lonjsko polje, Nature Park Medvednica, Nature Park Papuk, Nature Park Telaščica, Nature Park Velebit, Nature Park Vransko Lake, Nature Park Učka, Nature Park Žumberak – Samobor Mountains and Nature Park islands.

2. CROATIAN NATURE PARKS

2.1. NATURE PAKR BIOKOVO Nature park Biokovo was founded in 1981and it encompasses the area of 196 km². It is located in the southern part of Croatia in Splitsko-Dalmatisnka County covering the area of 7 municipalities: , Baška Voda, Tučepi, Podgora, , Šestanovac and , as well as two towns: and Vrgorac. The area of special protection implies:

 special geomorphologic reserve; Nevistina stina, Ovčje polje, Kuranik-Šibenik- Štropac-Vošac,  special reserves of forest vegetation,  reserves of beech and fir-tree forests; Kaoci, Kimet-Sutvid,  the reserves of autochthonous forest of black Dalmatian pine tree; Bukovac, Borovik, Šibenik-Borovac,  the reserves of the coast land beech forests; Vošac,  botanic reserves; Sv.Ilija-Šibenik-Štropac, Veliki Troglav, including the highest peak Sv. Jure and making a unit with it.

Fig.1: Nature park Biokovo

82 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. There is the Botanic Garden Kotišina within the part Biokovski with the area of 16,5 ha above the village Kotišina. The main characteristics of the Part there were crucial for declaring Biokovo as Nature Park are its geomorphologic characteristics, i.e. numerous crust phenomena, and extraordinary biological diversity: rich flora and fauna including numerous endemic plants and tertiary remains.

2.2 NATURE PARK KOPAČKI RIT The area of the Nature Park Kopački rit is located in the north-eastern part of the Republic of Croatia, i.e. it is a part of wider area of eastern Croatia. It is a plain part of a geographic unit of Baranja, located in Osječko-baranjska county, mostly in the lowlands between there rivers and , and the state Border with the Republic Hungary. It is spread northwards from the river Drave from the river mouth of Drava into Danube, and upstream of the Danube River on its left and right bank to the former quay Kazuk. The eastern border of the Nature Park is defined by the state border with the Republic .

Due to its extraordinary natural value, great biological diversity and remarkable scientific and ecological value, Kopački rit was protected in 1967 by the status of Managed natural reserve covering the area of 17.730 hectares The narrower reserve area of 7.220 hectares received the status of Special zoological reserve in 1976, and the wider area of 10.510 hectares the status of Nature Park. The international significance of Kopački rit was confirmed in 1993 by its being listed under internationally significant marshes in accordance with the Ramseur convention. Apart from that, Kopački rit is also on the list of the IBA program (Important Bird Areas). This program has developed Birdlife International, a global association for bird protection, their habitats and global biological diversity that directs people to sustainable usage of natural resources. The associations Determine, monitors and protects global network of the areas that are important as bird habitats and biological diversity. Kopački rit is a flooded area made by the activity of two large rivers, Danube and Drava. Northwards, southwards and westwards from the Nature Park there are significant flooded areas spreading from Batin on the north, Bijelo brdo on the south and Donji Miholjac on the west. Geographically, Kopački rit is located between 45° 32' and 45° 47' of the northern latitude and 18° 45' and 18° 59' of the eastern longitude. The altitudes of the entire area of Baranja don not exceed 250 m, and the area of the Nature Park is located on its lowest part, where the terrain altitudes are about 78 m (the bottom of the Kopačko Llake) to 86 m.

Fig.2: Map of the Nature park Kopački rit Fig. 3: Nature park Kopački rit

The relief of the area of Kopački rit is the result of water activity, by the river itself, as well as by the water flooding the area. The rivers create drifts and islands, so called aits, and armbands called here „Dunavac“ or „old Drava“. On the other hand, the water precipitates drifts at one place, and at the

83 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. other they deepen the terrain, and the whole area gets a very specific undulating appearance. Thus, ponds are created (depressions) and balks (elevated areas), spreading for hundred meters one along the other. Ponds and balks are narrow and long, and seen from the air they have a specific curved appearance. Between the ponds and balks the elevation difference is mostly 8 m. The ponds are connected at the ends and enter Dunavac or Danube across one natural canal, so called 'fok'. Foks serves to fill up and empty the ponds. Foks used to be artificially deepened, but there are also artificially made canals that have taken over the function of foks. Such arrangement of ponds and balks in gives this area a specific appearance. The whole flooded area looks like a river delta, and the river Danube in its middle flow creates so called inner delta with the help of the river Drava. This phenomenon is not known on other European rivers in this form, and it provides a World significance for this area. If Kopački rit should ever be listed under World Natural Heritage, it will be listed first of all because of this phenomenon, because many other larger and more significant rivers in the worlds do no have it.

2.3. NATURE PARK LONJSKO POLJE Nature Park Lonjsko polje is located in the central part of the Republic of Croatia bounded with the slopes of Moslavačka gora and the highway Zagre-Slavonski Brod from in the north, and with the river in the south. On the area of 50.650 ha there are meadows and pastures with plain flooded forests and old armbands (mrtvaje). But, apart from these extraordinary natural features this nature park owns also a very valuable cultural heritage, espeically very specific constructing objects, folklore, crafts and folk creation. It is therefore very important to preserve a unique cultural identity there.

Fig. 4: Map of the Nature park Lonjsko polje

The Croatian Parliament passed on 6. March, 1990 the Act on Declaration of Nature Park Lonjsko polje, and soon after that, on 25. June 1991 it received the international significance with Ramseur Convention about Marshes, especially as the habitat of many marsh birds The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed Lonjsko polje under 7 examples of planning the environmental protection in rural areas of Central and Eastern Europe. Special value of the park are its two ornithological reserves Krapje Dol and Rakita.

Fig. 5: Nature park Lonjsko polje

Due to the natural characteristics and the importance for the population of European bird species; there 239 species of birds living in this area with more than 130 nesting birds, the Nature Park Lonjsko polje was entered into the List of Ornithologically important areas (IBA). The management of the part is very complex because of the size of , the presence of many area users and the river system encompassing significantly larger area than the protected one. The conservation and encouragement of traditional agriculture, breeding of autochthonous cattle and plants, forest and water management, development of , protection of cultural and natural heritage, as well as regional planning are the issues of extreme importance for the future of this protected area. This large, plain

84 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. flooded area of the river Sava, with its confluents , Struga, , , Trebež, Česma and many other confluents makes this natural landscape on of the most valuable marsh areas in Europe.

2.4. NATURE PARK MEDVEDNICA The Nature Park Medvednica was founded on 16. June 1981 on the basis of the Act on Declaring the western part of Medvednica the nature park. It is spreading in the area of the City of Zagreb, Zagrebačka and Krapinsko-zagorska county. The area of the park is 22.826 ha. The basic phenomenon of the part are well preserved natural forests and forest communities spreading over 14.550 ha, which makes 64% of the entire area of the park, and on the other part there are orchards, vineyards, field cultures, and other objects. Within the park there are 8 forest reserves, and three trees are protected with the Act On Nature Protection as Nature monument, and these are: Gubec lime-tree in , the old larch-tree in Šupljak, and the old larch-tree near Horvatove stairs. Medvednica or Zagreb Mountain is a mountain massif in the northern hinterland of Zagreb. The middle parts of the mountain are made of eruptive and metamorphic rocks with green shale being the most often found. In the karst area on the northern side of the mountain there are sedimentary rocks, limestone and dolomites. One of the most developed cave system in Croatia has been discovered here; the underground canals of the cave Veternica are longer than 6 km.

Fig. 6: Map of the Nature Park Medvednica Fig.7: Nature Park Medvednica

In the antechamber of Veternica very valuable remains of the prehistoric man were found, as well as of fauna living there or caught (120 sculls of cave bear, lion jaw, etc.). Cultural and historical monument Medvegrad, and Sljeme Chapple are very significant. The largest part of Medvednica is covered with woods. In lower and warmer parts of the mountain there are mostly oak, hornbeam and chestnut growing. The largest areas are covered with beech forests; they are first mixed with previous species, then prevail as independent beech belt, and finally combined with pine. In the peak zone there are maple and ash trees, and on isolated locations one can find very rare protected species – larch- trees. The peak zone is treated as forest park, and there are also a few reserves found.

85 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. 2.5 NATURE PARK PAPUK Nature Park Papuk is located in mountain forest areas of Papuk, and it was declared a nature par on 23. April 1999 covering the area of 336 km². The reason for Papuk being declared a nature par is that there are the features of inanimate nature present there that are characteristic for central . It is indisputably a vast natural and cultivated area with emphasized aesthetic, ecological, educational, cultural and historical, and tourist and recreation values. The most important feature of the eastern part of Croatia, Slavonia area the plains with large cultivated areas. Out of this plain, that used to be the bottom of the Pannonian Sea there are the mountains elevating to almost thousand meters of altitude. One of these mountains is also Papuk, the most beautiful mountain in Slavonia. Geomorphologic, climate and vegetation characteristics of the Nature Park Papuk provide excellent natural habitats for numerous plants and animals. Forest vegetation covers more than 95% of the area. A dominant tree type is beech. There are almost all representatives of central European fauna living here, but 200 years ago this area was also inhabited by bears, wolfs and lynxes. Today the dense forests of Papuk are the habitat and shelter for deers, does, wild boars, foxes and martens... Papuk provides excellent habitats for numerous bird species and it is internationally very important area for birds. Fig. 8: Map of the Nature Park Papuk

The pit Uviraljka is a very important resort for bats. There are almost 1300 types of plants (more than a fourth of the entire Croatian flora) growing on Papuk. The most endangered and protected types of plants grow on the natural grassland and other areas without forests. Within the Nature Park Papuk there are numerous areas having higher degree of protection than the other parts of the park.

Fig. 9: Nature park Papuk

They have been given the status of specially protected areas because of their unusual characteristics manifested as unique in the area, the region, the country and wider. The areas of special protection imply:  Jankovac that was declared a protected Forest Park in 1955. "Grofova poučna staza" («Count's instructive path») was built on Jankovac passing through the most beautiful parts of the Forest Par,  Rupnica located in the vicinity of the place Voćin in the north-western part of the Park presents also a geological nature monument. Rupnica was declare the first geological nature monument of Croatia in 1948,  Sekulinačka mountain is almost 150 years old beech and fir-tree wood protected in 1966 as a special reserve of forest vegetation on the area of 8 hectares,  Old oak-trees were protected as nature monuments in 2005. The height of the trees is about 33 m, and they are about 420 to 500 old,  Larch-tree habitat was specially protected as nature monument in 2005 covering the area of 0,72 hectares. Papuk used to be rich with larch-tree forests which can be confirmed by numerous toponymes (Tisovac, Tisica, Tisov potok),

86 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92.  Pliš-Mališćak-Turjak-Lapjak is specific flora reserve that was named after four neighbouring mountains where it is located.

2.6 NATURE PARK TELAŠČICA The karst depression is located in the central part of the eastern coast of the , in the south- eastern part of Dugi otok. Due to the exceptional beauty, richness and importance, this karst depression, surrounded by 13 island and small islands, containing also 6 islands inside the karst depression, was declared Nature Park in 1988. It received the status of the protected area already in 1980 due to its exceptionally valuable communities of sea bottom and interesting archaeological heritage. Three fundamental phenomena present the basic features of this are: unique karst depression Telašćica as the safest, the most beautiful and the largest natural harbour in the Adriatic Sea with 25 small beaches, the rocks of Dugi otok, so called «stene» ascending up to 161 meters over the sea and descending to the depth of 90 m, and finally the salt lake «Mir» with therapeutic features. The most picturesque among the islands is the island Katina, but the most unusual is quite certainly Taljurić. The total area of the Nature Park is 70,50 km², i.e. 25,95 km² on Dugi otok and the neighbouring small islands, and 44,55 km² at sea. In the surroundings there are very beautiful cultivated meadows, and the hills full of Mediterranean vegetation with about 500 plant species and equally rich fauna. The submarine world has got 300 plant and 300 animal species. The most important parts of the Nature Park Telaščica are:  Karst depression Telaščica,  the lake „Mir“,  Strmac or „Stene“.

The karst depression that the whole Nature Park has got its name is located in the south- eastern part of Dugi otok. It reaches the land at the length of about 8 km, and in its southern, the widest part it is about 1,6 km wide. This part of the karst depression that is turned towards southeast is open to the neighbouring islands. The depression itself is very indented and contains about 25 bays, capes and 5 small islands. Due to its position it is protected from from the land and from and scirocco impacts from the sea. Thanks to these features Telašćica is one of the largest and best protected natural harbours on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Fig.10: Nature Park Telaščica

The name Telašćica itself originates probably from the Latin name „tre lagus“ which means «three lakes». It consists of three parts separated with narrowing. The three parts are Tripuljak, Farfarikulac and Telašćica. Morphogenetically these three bays are actually karst sinkholes that were created under the sea about ten thousand years ago after the last (Wurm) glaciation. The lake "Mir" is located in the south-western part of the Nature Park Telašćica. The lake is located in the narrow part of the land between the bay Telašćica and the open sea. After the last ice age the sea level was raised by about 120 meters and the karst depression was filled with sea coming into it through numerous underground micro-rifts that are especially numerous on the northern side. The sea wells are easily noticed during the high tide. It length is about 900 m, and the largest width about 300 m. The largest depth is 6 m. The lake is salty because it is connected with the sea through underground canals. Its salinity is mostly higher then the surrounding sea because of high evaporation and the lake being closed. In the lake Mir there have been smaller changes of water level noticed, because the rifts that connect the lake with the sea are of small penetration. On the south-eastern part of the lake the sea pours into the lake at the time of stormy sirocco. The coast of the lake is mostly low and rocky, with numerous karrens, and only in

87 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. the north-western part one can notice smaller sand accumulations. The bottom of the lake is rocky in the shallow part, and in the deeper parts it is covered with pelite, and in the south-eastern part with fang (sanative mud).

There are vertical cliffs ascending from the external side of the karst depression Telašćica forming the most distinguished steep slope at the Adriatic Sea – well known Dugi otok «stene». The steep slope is spreading from the cape Mrzlovica in the north-west to the slopes of Veli vrh in the south-east reaching the heights of 161 m on Grpašćak. The largest depths reach 85 m. This area is rich with very interesting plant and animal world, and from the rocks one can observe the dolphins. On the rocks themselves there are various corals living under the sea, inducing today already very rate red corals. The rocks are interesting even above the sea, because for example the knapweed of Dubrovnik is growing on the steep cliffs, and one can find here the habitat of spurge located in the most northern part. The peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus, is building its nests on the cliffs, and one can also meet elenorin falcon Falco eleonore there. Due to the presence of a large number of these two protected species Telašćica was listed into the ornithologhically significant areas (Important Bird Area-IBA).

2.7. NATURE PARK VELEBIT Nature park "Velebit" was declared on 29. 05. 1981. As late as in 1978 the International Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) declared Velebit an international reserve of biosphere within the frame of the scientific program «Man and biosphere». The mountain massif of Velebit is one of the most famous in the narrower area of the Dinarides, and it is spread on 145 km, from Vratnik over in the north-west from the bend in the southeast. From the coastal belt to the land bottom in it is 14 km wide, but from place to place the width varies, from mostly 30 km in the northern part to at least 10 km in its southern part. On the area of about 2 270 km² the web of numerous karts ridges and karst sinkholes, hips, mountain reefs, valleys and mountain peaks, with 130 of them exceeding the altitude of 1370 m. In the northern part of Velebit they reach almost 1700 m (Mali Rajinac 1699 m), in the central part more than 1600 m (Šatorina 1624 m, Ograđenik 1604 m, Ograđenica 1614 m), and in the southern and the highest part from 1700 to 1758 m (Babin vrh 1723 m, Vaganski vrh 1757 m, Segestin 1715 m, Malovan 1709 m, Sveto brdo 1751 m). («Plant world of Velebit“ by the academician Sergej Forenbacher). The other protected areas within the Nature Par „Velebit“ on the basis of the Rebister of the Ministry of Culture:

 strict reserve; Hajdučki and Rožanski Hips (within the border of „Sjeverni Velebit“),  botanical reserves: Zavižan-Balinovac- Zavižanska kosa, Visibaba,  reserves of forest vegetation; forest areas Štirovača in the Central Velebit,  special geomorphologic reserves; Cerovačke caves near Gračac.  nature monuments; Velnačka glavica,  significant landscape; the bay . Fig.11: Nature Park Velebit

Because of geographic and climate position Velebit is very convenient habitat for the species of most various ecological demands, which results in its value as a reserve, should be adequately protected. About one third of the nature park is planned to be declared as national park and to be connected with the existing national park „“.

88 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. 2.8 NATURE PARK VRANSKO LAKE As one of rate, almost untouched natural habitats of water birds, with the wells of potable water and the area of specific characteristics and biological varieties Vransko lake was declared a Nature park with the surrounding area on 21.07.1999. The borders of the Par run between Pirovac and Pakoštani. The Park is 57 km2 large, and the largest part of 30,02 km2 relates to the Vransko lake placed in the direction north-west and south-east stretching along with the sea coast from which it is less than a kilometre away. Referring to its position and characteristics it is very specific in Croatia, but also in a wider European area. It is actually karst field filled with water and presents a kryptodipression.

Fig.12: Map of the Nature park Vransko lake Fig.13: Nature park Vransko lake

The border of the nature park «Vransko lake» starts with the ornithological reserve over the contour line 108 (Kosovac), then to the contour lines 197 (Zverinac), 3030 (Štandarac), 288 (Bakrač), 121 (Ljubovnik), and then turns to the south-west to the contour line 109 (Tuštica), running further to the north-west along the Adriatic highway in the length of 3,5 km, and then along the byway between the Adriatic highway and Vransko lake to the exit on the road Pakoštane - Vrana, and further along the road to the initial point of the chapel of St. Sunday in Marina.

Dominant characteristic of the Park is a Special ornithologhical reserve that received the status as far as in 1983 due to its preserved appearance of a large area covered with reed in the north-western part of lake as very rare wetland system, great biological variety, exceptional scientific and ecological value, and listed under important ornithologhical areas in Europe (Important Bird Areas in Europe).

It is an unusual compromise and an extraordinary connection of land and water providing shelter for the most various plants and animals offering everything most necessary for their life. It is covered with grass, sedge and reed looking partyl as a part of grassland intersected with shallow ponds, covered with flowers of beautiful colours and with numerous butterflies, bugs, which is very convenient for birds during the whole year that live in the entire area of the Park.In the weed of the Nature Park bird fans can experience something unforgettable observing from their shelters the life of birds, how they build nests and care for their brood. Vransko lake is a «hot spot», i.e. the area where 241 bird species have been registered so far among which 102 species build their nests in the area of the Park. Among the birds that build the nests there are four type of endangered (risky) types at the European level and seven types of endangered types at the national level. For some of the birds the Nature Park Vransko lake is the only nest area in the Mediterranean part of Croatia. The area of the park is very important platform and feeding place for the whole series of European endangered types. More than 100 000 water birds spend their winters there.

89 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. 2.9. NATURE PARK UČKA

Fig.14: Map of the Nature Park Učka Fig.15: Nature park Učka

The mountain Učka, a symbol of the inhabitants of Primorje and Istria was declared a nature park in 1999 due to its geological structure, geomorphology, climate (climate barrier), exuberance, endemic flora and fauna, autochthonous cultures and construction heritage. It is spreading over 146 km² in the length of 25 km, from the eastern parts of Ćićarija to Plominsa cove. The eastern side is covered with Mediterranean vegetation and forests of beech oak trees, and the western side is almost without forests.

At the bottom of Učka, in the area of Lovranština, there are well known forests of chestnut-trees and cherry-tree orchards, and the fruits of these cultures are celebrated every year for several days: Cherry days in June and Marunada in October. The community of Učko and Justin bell (Campanuletum tommasinianae-justinianae) – is the endemic plant of Učka, which means that it does not grow anywhere else in the worls. Učka offer the possibility for various types of recreation; cycling, bird watching, sport climbing, paragliding, but mostly for wandering and alpinism. Thus, Učka is probably the only place in the world where you can photograph the endemic Učka bel (Campanula tomassiniana), and one of the last European localities where bird watchers can enjoy impressive outlines of griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) or golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). These types are two prominet representatives of ornithofauna of Učka with 70 so far known registered bird that build nests, as well as other bird types visiting Učka temporarily.

2.10 NATURE PARK ŽUMBERAK – SAMOBOR MOUNTAIN The Nature park Žumberak – Samobor mountains encompasses about 350 km², and it was legally declared a nature park on 28. May, 1999. Its basic goal is to protect and promote natural beauties of this area. According to the Environmental Protection Law the Nature Park is a natural or partly cultivated area with the emphasized aesthetic, ecological, educational, cultural and historical, and tourist and recreation values, and it allows the activities that do not endanger its essential characteristics. With its natural beauty and tradition this area deserves the «title» Nature Park. It represents the separated mountain peak Sveta Gera. The eastern part is lower and very diverse, and it covers the area of Samobor Mountains with the peaks Japetić (871 m) and Plešivica (780 m), and the valise of numerous rivers. According to the geological age the oldest rocks in the area of the Park date as far as the Palaeozoic (Perm – more than 250 million of years), and in its construction there are the

90 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92. Dolomites of Trias age and Cretaceous sediments, which made the development of karst possible covering almost 90% of the area of the Nature Park. The number of surface and deep karst forms is therefore no wonder, from sinkholes and bays to caves, ditches, etc.

Fig.16: Map of the Nature Park Žumberak – Samobor mountains

It is very important to point out that this area was continuously inhabited from the prehistory time to the present days, which can be seen from archaeological sites Budinjak and Bratelji, in the area of which the Archaeological Park was established, or to see the remains of the mediaeval towns Tuščak, Stari grad Žumberak and Okić (it is considered the oldest noble fortification of the north-western Croatia).

2.11 NATURE PARK LASTOVO ISLANDS

Fig. 17: Map of the Nature Park Lastovo islands

Lastovo islands is the youngest Croatian nature park, declared in 2006. Its total area is 195,83 km². The area of the land part makes 52,71 km², and the area of sea part is 143,12 km². The nature park includes all 44 islands, small islands, cliffs and reefs belonging to the municipality Lastovo. The largest in this group are Lastovo and Sušac. This area is one of the most preserved sea areas of the Adriatic Sea.

91 Cigrovski-Detelić B., Tutić D., Udovičić D. (2010). Nature Parks in the Republic of Croatia. In: D. Kereković (ed.). Space, Heritage & Future. Croatian Information Technology Association – GIS Forum, University of Silesia, Zagreb, 82-92.

Because of its values and characteristics it represents a natural and partly cultivated area of land and sea with ecological features of the international and national importance, with emphasized landscape, education, cultural and historical and tourist and recreation values. Its landscape and cultural values will be preserved, as well as biological and landscape varieties, which includes the belonging sea and underwater area. Extremely transparent water, as well as coastal steep slopes and many plant and animal species are important characteristics of the Park. Its forests hide many caves, ditches, and very rich underwater area is a crown jewel. Fig. 18: Nature Park Lastovo islands

REFERENCES 1. Cigrovski-Detelić, B. (2009): Topografija (Topography), University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Zagreb, course manuscript. 2. Črep, J; Jurčić, D; Loparić, I. (2009): Nacionalni parkovi i parkovi prirode, (National Parks and Nature Parks) seminar thesis (tutor: Cigrovski-Detelić), University of Zagreb, Faculty of Geodesy, Zagreb. 3. http://www.pp-medvednica.hr/ 4. http://www.pp-ucka.hr/ 5. http://www.pp-papuk.hr/ 6. http://www.pp-zumberak-samoborsko-gorje.hr/ 7. http://www.pp-velebit.hr/ 8. http://www.biokovo.com/ 9. http://www.pp-lonjsko-polje.hr/ 10. http://www.kopacki-rit.com/ 11. http://www.telascica.hr/ 12. http://vransko-jezero.hr/cms/ 13. http://pp-lastovo.hr/

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