Parks of Croatia guide to national parks and nature parks in the republic of croatia We cherish the riches that nature has been creating for centuries When it comes to conserved nature, Croatia cooperation with the Ministry of Environment is among the richest countries in Europe, and and Energy that provides financial support to conserved nature could be considered one public institutions, ensuring environmental, of the strongest Croatian brands. This is also nature and biodiversity conservation and confirmed by the fact that one third of the efficient management, focusing on sustainable territory of Croatia belongs to the largest global development in particular. Croatia is among few The opinion of the authors in this publication does not network of protected areas – the European countries with a high percentage of territory necessarily reflect the official opinion of the United Nations, ecological network Natura 2000. Due to their under protection, as a result of a high degree Impressum undp or their member states. extraordinary natural and landscape values, of conservation of natural resources, but also a our 8 National Parks and 11 Nature Parks have reflection of desire of Croatian citizens to have been recognized on the world map as must- such policy in place. Conserved nature areas publisher authors photography see places that are worth experiencing. This – including National Parks, Nature Parks and Ministry of Environment Igor Kreitmeyer, Ivana Horvat, Archives of National brochure offers an essential insight into the other categories of protection, as well as Natura and Energy and Valentina Futač, Marija Jurčević, and Nature Parks unique features and attractions of 19 Parks 2000 ecological network areas – constitute the United Nations Dino Kapuano Mario Romulić, Ante Gugić, that annually draw over 4 million visitors, most important values of any country; values Development Programme Romeo Ibrišević, Marko Vrdoljak, inviting you to discover them yourself. You that we must protect and wisely manage, so (undp) Ivo Pervan, Renco Kosinožić will be assisted by staff of public institutions that not only the present generations, but also managing the Parks and taking care of them in future ones, might enjoy these riches. introduction parks of croatia 3 Symbols Contents introduction | 3 national parks Plitvička jezera | 6 hiking horse boat Paklenica | 8 riding trips Risnjak | 10 Mljet | 12 Kornati | 14 Brijuni | 16 mountain trail skiikng fortress climbing Krka | 18 Sjeverni Velebit | 20 nature parks Kopački rit | 22 rock climbing speleology wild animals Biokovo | 23 Medvednica | 24 Velebit | 25 Telašćica | 26 Lonjsko polje | 27 cycling paragliding birdwatching Papuk | 28 Vransko jezero | 29 Učka | 30 Žumberak - Samoborsko gorje | 31 fishing swimming photography Lastovsko otočje | 32 volunteer program | 33 contacts | 34 sailing scuba diving restaurant kayaking snorkeling accommodation 4 parks of croatia parks of croatia 5 Place of magical beauty main features proclaimed as national park: 1949 inscribed into the unesco world heritage list: 1979 area: 296,8 km2 16 lakes biggest lakes: Kozjak and Prošće main attraction: Veliki slap (Great Waterfall), 78 m Between Mala Kapela and Lička Plješivica, next to the road the biggest waterfall in Croatia connecting Dalmatia to Zagreb, there are 16 cascade- highest peak: Seliški vrh, 1279 m lined lakes with magnificent waterfalls, surrounded by cave open for tourists: Šupljara forests with abundant fauna. Plitvička jezera (Plitvice point of interest Lakes) was the first Croatian national park whose value The name of the Park comes from the was also recognized by unesco having placed it on the word “plitvice”, “pličine” which means world natural heritage list. something shallow, a shallow basin created in the sedimentation process The two biggest and deepest lakes, Kozjak and Prošće, of limestone. together with ten other smaller lakes on dolomite Did you substrate make up a group of Upper Lakes, whereas the event of the year Lower Lakes are situated downstream from Kozjak in Plitvice Lakes Marathon in June know? the 70 – 80 meter deep limestone canyon. Just before flora and fauna According to a legend, entering Prošćansko Lake, the two rivers, Crna and Bijela, plants: Siberian rayflower, Dalmatian there was a queen, Black merge into the joint Matica, whereas the River Rječica squill,round-leaved sundew, 58 types Queen, who came down of orchids – lady’s slipper the mountain and after enters Kozjak Lake and the beautiful Korana River is its animals: brown bear, wolf, lynx, Ural owl, otter a very dry season sent a effluent. Next to it, at the most impressive part of the strong wind and thunder park, at Sastavci, together with the waterfalls of the storm to the local last lake falls the 78 meter high waterfall of the Plitvice people to finally end Rivulet. The River Korana, on its way to Golubinjača, the the drought. After the rain, 16 lakes remained. deepest cave in the national park, and further on towards The people were very Karlovac also forms some amazing waterfalls. grateful and the queen Even though the altitude of Plitvice Lakes is not very said: “From now on, high, the rich forests surrounding it give the impression people will be coming from all over the world of mountainous landscape; also the best preserved area to see these beautiful of original beech-fir forest spreads into the virgin forest Plitvice Lakes”. of Čorkova Cove. 6 parks of croatia plitvička jezera plitvička jezera parks of croatia 7 Heaven for climbers and adventurers main features proclaimed as national park: 1949 area: 95 km2 highest peak: Vaganski vrh, 1757 m main attractions: impressive canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica carved into the mountain from the sea level to the highest Was it the beauty of this place that the locals from the peaks of Velebit biggest croatian rock for climbers: village at the bottom of Paklenica talked about when Anića kuk, 712 m they passed on for generations the legend about the cave open for tourists: Manita peć fairies that charmed and lured all those who would look point of interest at them? The name of the Park comes from the Carved vertically into the south banks of Velebit, the word “paklina” which means black pine canyons of Velika and Mala Paklenica are filled with resin rock sculptures amid forests and valleys rich with event of the year mountainous flora and fauna. Endemic bellflowers, dense International climbers meeting in May Do not black pine tree forests, orchids and lilies, then various species of butterflies and birds attract nature lovers, flora and fauna miss whereas steep rocks of Velika Paklenica are a favourite plants: sandwort and Lady’s Slipper animals: chamois, brown bear, wolf, lynx, Through the wild gorge destination for hikers and mountain climbers. golden eagle of Velika Paklenica A lavish underground world is best seen in Manita where long time ago peć, a 175 meter long cave, divided in two chambers of highlander women used numerous stalagmite, stalactite and calcite columns. The to carry salt, figs and shallot (“ljutika”) on their cave entrance is at the altitude of 570 meters, and the way back from the coast, ascent from the parking area in Velika Paklenica to the and also carried wheat cave takes about an hour and a half. from the fertile land of Visitors who wish to avoid dangerous adventures are Lika to the coast, there attracted by impressive scenes of Velebit overlooking the is a pleasant hiking trail today with many road holiday resorts of Starigrad-Paklenica, Selina and Tribanj. signs in both Croatian If you wish to see for yourself all the beauties of the National and English. Park, choose one of the 150 kilometer long mountain trails and relax in the best possible way in the beauty of Velebit, in the shades of giant beech and pine forests. 8 parks of croatia paklenica paklenica parks of croatia 9 In the land of the lynx and main features edelweiss proclaimed as national park: 1953 Expanded to the Kupa source and Snježnik massif in 1997 area: 63,5 km2 entry points: from Crni Lug, from the pass of Gornje Jelenje and from Kupska dolina Fragmented and steep rocks, abyss, cracks in limestone highest peak: Veliki Risnjak, 1528 m main attractions: the source of the and sink-holes up to 200 meters deep, coves and karst River Kupa and the Risnjak massif with valleys are the main features of Risnjak National Park a guest house located in Gorski kotar, about 15 kilometers to the particular feature of the park: edelweiss and hairy alpenrose north-east from Rijeka. On a relatively small area of the Dinarides there are fourteen main types of mountain particularities forests together with about thirty plant communities. Forest communities and large carnivores Apart from Risnjak Mountain, the National Park also point of interest includes the Snježnik mountain massif, as well as the The name of the Park comes from the source of the Kupa River. It is possible to reach the source, Croatian word for the lynx – “ris” What the only unique blue and green carst spring, following event of the year to visit? a well marked attractive winding trail from the village A local celebration in August, of Razloge or from the northern side of Kupska dolina, the so-called “Furman Day” It is best to follow the following a more pleasant but longer road from the Leska educational trail village of Hrvatsko. flora and fauna and its 23 viewpoints to The National Park Risnjak is abundant with diverse flora plants: edelweiss, hairy alpenrose, Alpine encounter the natural and buttewort, great yellow gentian, lilies, cultural heritage of the and fauna so it’s a unique place in Europe where you can orchids, arnica, silvery yarrow, false aster National Park Risnjak. It is still see a bear, a wolf or a lynx in their natural habitat.