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National Parks in Croatia
A National Park is a large tract of land with exceptional natural features, comprising one or more ecosystems that have been unaltered or only marginally altered by human activity. Only traditional forms of agriculture, tourism and recreational activities are allowed there. Eight National Parks have been established in the Republic of Croatia.
:: Plitvička jezera
The most beautiful and the best known of all Croatian National Parks, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, located near the main route that links Zagreb with Dalmatia. It includes a string of 16 lakes which are connected by waterfalls naturally created by limestone barriers. Most of the area of the Park is covered by dense beech, fir, spruce and pine forests. Particularly important is the Čorkova uvala virgin forest where giant fir and spruce trees grow to more than 50 meters in height. Various animals live in the Park, brown bear and wolf among them; many of them are the species whose numbers are dwindling in the wild.
:: Kornati
The most indented island group in the Mediterranean, comprising 140 uninhabited islands, islets and reefs, is a veritable labyrinth built of seawater and stone. Visually and geomorphologically, the outer islands and their cliffs that soar to over 100 meters are the most attractive and will surely impress every visitor. The Piškera Marina is located within the National Park itself and there are eight other marinas in the vicinity.
:: Brijuni
Brijuni is a group of two larger and twelve small islands near the west coast of Istria. The islands are famous as a location with the best-preserved Mediterranean vegetation; a considerable part of the Veliki Brijun island has been turned into a landscape park with domestic and imported plant and animal life. The key feature of this National Park are surely the fabulous heritage monuments, particularly those from Roman and Byzantine periods (at Verige and Kastrum). On account of their exceptional natural beauty, these islands have been a preferred summer hideaway for many statesmen of the world.
:: Krka
On account of its hydrological and geomorphological features, Krka is the most amazing among the rivers of the Croatian karst region. For about two-thirds of its 72 kilometers-long course, the river runs through deep canyons cut into limestone plateaus. The area of the National Park covers the course of the Krka river between Knin and Skradin. Much of the river is actually a string of elongated lakes - natural reservoirs created upstream of every one of the many waterfalls. The most beautiful among them are the Skradinski Buk and the Roški slap. There is a small island in the middle of the lake between the two; a Franciscan monastery stands on the island.
:: Paklenica
A National Park on the southern slopes of Velebit - the largest mountain massif of Croatia, extends from its highest peaks to the shoreline. The impressive canyons of Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica which are 400 meters deep, belong to a group of the most attractive natural phenomena created by erosion, with a large number of unusual karst formations and many caves. Paklenica is also renowned for its abundance and variety of plant and animal life. Another landmark is the monumental vertical cliff named Anića Kuk, popular with alpine climbers in Croatia.
:: Risnjak
Risnjak is a forested mountain massif in Gorski Kotar, to the north of Rijeka. It includes the area of the Kupa river headwaters. Due to its location between the Alps and the Dinara mountain and the effects of both the coastal and continental climates, this small area (30 square kilometers) is a habitat for various species of flora and fauna, including brown bear, lynx, chamois, deer and short-toed snake eagle. The beauty and variety of forests, karst formations and monumental vistas are attracting numerous hikers.
:: Mljet
The island of Mljet lies to the southwest of Dubrovnik. The National Park covers the western part of the island with two deep coves called lakes, the Veliko jezero and the Malo jezero, connected with the open sea by only a few meters-wide channel. Mljet is one of the most verdant locations in the European Mediterranean with abundant and diverse Mediterranean vegetation. Two first-class cultural and historical monuments can be found in this beautiful natural setting: the erstwhile Benedictine monastery complex built in the 12th century on a small islet in the middle of Veliko jezero (a hotel today) and the remains of the palace built in ancient times in the village of Polače (the name of the village derives therefrom).
:: Sjeverni Velebit
This National Park comprises the most interesting and attractive part of the highest regions of Velebit. It includes the Strict Natural Reserves of Rožanski kukovi and Hajdučki kukovi with their magnificent karst formations and the Lukina jama, one of the deepest caves in the world. The famous Velebit Botanical Garden is also there.
:: Plitvička jezera
The most beautiful and the best known of all Croatian National Parks, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, located near the main route that links Zagreb with Dalmatia. It includes a string of 16 lakes which are connected by waterfalls naturally created by limestone barriers. Most of the area of the Park is covered by dense beech, fir, spruce and pine forests. Particularly important is the Čorkova uvala virgin forest where giant fir and spruce trees grow to more than 50 meters in height. Various animals live in the Park, brown bear and wolf among them; many of them are the species whose numbers are dwindling in the wild.
:: Kornati
The most indented island group in the Mediterranean, comprising 140 uninhabited islands, islets and reefs, is a veritable labyrinth built of seawater and stone. Visually and geomorphologically, the outer islands and their cliffs that soar to over 100 meters are the most attractive and will surely impress every visitor. The Piškera Marina is located within the National Park itself and there are eight other marinas in the vicinity.
:: Brijuni
Brijuni is a group of two larger and twelve small islands near the west coast of Istria. The islands are famous as a location with the best-preserved Mediterranean vegetation; a considerable part of the Veliki Brijun island has been turned into a landscape park with domestic and imported plant and animal life. The key feature of this National Park are surely the fabulous heritage monuments, particularly those from Roman and Byzantine periods (at Verige and Kastrum). On account of their exceptional natural beauty, these islands have been a preferred summer hideaway for many statesmen of the world.
:: Krka
On account of its hydrological and geomorphological features, Krka is the most amazing among the rivers of the Croatian karst region. For about two-thirds of its 72 kilometers-long course, the river runs through deep canyons cut into limestone plateaus. The area of the National Park covers the course of the Krka river between Knin and Skradin. Much of the river is actually a string of elongated lakes - natural reservoirs created upstream of every one of the many waterfalls. The most beautiful among them are the Skradinski Buk and the Roški slap. There is a small island in the middle of the lake between the two; a Franciscan monastery stands on the island.
:: Paklenica
A National Park on the southern slopes of Velebit - the largest mountain massif of Croatia, extends from its highest peaks to the shoreline. The impressive canyons of Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica which are 400 meters deep, belong to a group of the most attractive natural phenomena created by erosion, with a large number of unusual karst formations and many caves. Paklenica is also renowned for its abundance and variety of plant and animal life. Another landmark is the monumental vertical cliff named Anića Kuk, popular with alpine climbers in Croatia.
:: Risnjak
Risnjak is a forested mountain massif in Gorski Kotar, to the north of Rijeka. It includes the area of the Kupa river headwaters. Due to its location between the Alps and the Dinara mountain and the effects of both the coastal and continental climates, this small area (30 square kilometers) is a habitat for various species of flora and fauna, including brown bear, lynx, chamois, deer and short-toed snake eagle. The beauty and variety of forests, karst formations and monumental vistas are attracting numerous hikers.
:: Mljet
The island of Mljet lies to the southwest of Dubrovnik. The National Park covers the western part of the island with two deep coves called lakes, the Veliko jezero and the Malo jezero, connected with the open sea by only a few meters-wide channel. Mljet is one of the most verdant locations in the European Mediterranean with abundant and diverse Mediterranean vegetation. Two first-class cultural and historical monuments can be found in this beautiful natural setting: the erstwhile Benedictine monastery complex built in the 12th century on a small islet in the middle of Veliko jezero (a hotel today) and the remains of the palace built in ancient times in the village of Polače (the name of the village derives therefrom).
:: Sjeverni Velebit
This National Park comprises the most interesting and attractive part of the highest regions of Velebit. It includes the Strict Natural Reserves of Rožanski kukovi and Hajdučki kukovi with their magnificent karst formations and the Lukina jama, one of the deepest caves in the world. The famous Velebit Botanical Garden is also there.
