Plitvice Lakes is the largest national park in croatia. Plitvice Lakes On Your Own - How to get there, What to see. Description of the Plitvice Lakes park

In general, I do not like places like this: how many times have I written that going to some nature reserve it makes no sense, the nature around is the same. But the Plitvice Lakes National Park struck to the very heart. Now, sitting in cold, icy Moscow, I even want to go back there again. And again walk those six hours of your route.

Meet one of the most beautiful places in the already beautiful Croatia!

1. Finding the way to the lakes is very easy, if you are traveling by car, enter the name into the navigator settlement Plitvička jezera, and if on public transport- for sure in the city where you are staying will be offered excursion tours... For cars provided paid parking, all the pleasure costs 40 rubles per hour.

2. The ticket is not cheap compared to other Croatian museums and costs about 600 rubles. The ticket is valid throughout the day and entitles you to use the bus that runs on the territory national park(unlimited) or by boat (once).

3. The walk is going to be a long one, stock up on food in advance. In front of the entrance, you can buy delicious pies for 80 rubles apiece, in the middle of the route there is a cafe under open air, but you won't dine there for less than 400 rubles.

4. For those who want to save money, I will say that you can park for free, and entering the park without a ticket is also as easy as shelling pears. I found out about this when I left the park and initially wanted to tell you about this little secret. But all the same I will not: the entire European system is built on trust in people, let's not violate it. Although it is very easy to deceive this system in this case.

5. At the entrance there are signs that you cannot do in the park. The strictest prohibition is swimming. Even the water cannot be touched, for this there is a large fine, and in some cases even imprisonment. I'll tell you soon why.

6. Entrance to the park. Here is another ticket office, for those who entered from the other side.

7. The park has six different hiking trails, you can choose any for yourself, depending on how much time you have, how strong your legs are, and what exactly you want to see. The first three routes start the same way. To get to hiking trail- get into such a road train. If there are a lot of people, you can wait, they go regularly.

8. I have chosen a medium-length route. The beauty of the area begins as soon as you get off the bus.

9. Everything in the park is made for the convenience of people: not a centimeter of a dirt road, boardwalks everywhere. Only when you get inside you realize that the price of 600 rubles is justified.

10. On the way there will be waterfalls, large and small.

11. Throughout the walk I was accompanied by bubbling waters.

12. So why can't you swim here?

13. The rule in the park is that what falls into the water remains there. No one pulls out driftwood or fallen leaves, so the microflora is not disturbed and nature remains untouched. This is how the Croatian authorities preserve the park for future generations.

14. If a person is redeemed in this the purest water- it will upset the natural balance with its microbes, and many plants will die.

15. To be honest - I really wanted to swim!

16. Almost everywhere in the water are teeming with fish. Stretch out your hand - you will catch several at once. But again, you can't.

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20. There are many places on Plitvice Lakes where you can relax, read a book or admire the untouched nature.

21. There are many tourists, near the most "interesting" views and waterfalls there is a queue to be photographed in the background.

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23. There are many elderly people. European retirees love hiking.

24. A huge bald German fucking a bow against the background of a waterfall.

25. Bull-Bull!

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27. The color of the water depends on the underwater plants, they are different everywhere. This is the wonder of Plitvice Lakes, in one small area - a huge variety of flora.

28. It seems to me that this girl is somewhat similar to the ducks she feeds.

29. In the middle of the route you can take a boat: just by this moment most people get tired of walking.

30. In the boat everyone sits like sprats in a jar - only there is not enough oil. No one runs, does not take pictures against the background of the lake, does not yell "Tagil".

31. On the top shelf there are life jackets, exactly according to the number of passengers. However, we were not told how to use them.

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34. You go ashore - and immediately a large open-air cafe, with a bunch of tables. You can take a break and have lunch. I even drank beer - I had to walk for several more hours, besides, in Croatia, the permissible dose of alcohol in the driver's blood was 0.5 ppm.

35. Some of the tourists get so tired that they prefer healthy sleep to food.

36. Another half hour of the way - and we come to the largest waterfall in the national park.

37. To take a picture of the waterfall without anyone wanting to capture themselves as a souvenir, I had to break the rule a little and come closer.

38. Nobody noticed me, but it was worth it!

39. You can climb even higher, to the observation deck, and look at the waterfall from above. I do not recommend it to anyone - in ten minutes of climbing steep road(however, with hollowed-out steps) you will be more tired than three hours of leisurely strolling along the wooden decks.

40. But when you go back to the bus that will take you to the starting point, to the first parking lot (we left the car there), the views will delight you much more.

41. If, after Plitvice Lakes, you want to go to the cities of Pula or Rijeka, there are two roads there. One is picturesque, leading through many Croatian villages, and then winds along sea ​​coast, the second is a toll highway. The first one is more interesting, but keep in mind that for 300 kilometers you will meet only one gas station. Therefore, I had to turn onto the Autobahn, before reaching hundreds of kilometers to the coastal beauty. Refuel in advance :)

National park Plitvice Lakes are business card Croatia, a unique natural formation and an unambiguous must see. The lakes are extremely picturesque - wooded hills are surrounded by turquoise lakes, which are connected by a series of waterfalls and river cascades. On the shores of lakes, under waterfalls and above the noisy water, winding wooden bridges and decks are laid (their total length is 18 km). In 1979, UNESCO declared Plitvice Lakes a World Heritage Site.

The lakes are divided into upper and lower lakes. The upper lakes, lying in a dolomite valley, are surrounded by dense forests and are connected by several magnificent waterfalls. The lower lakes are smaller and smaller. Their main food is provided by the rivers Bisla and Crna (their names mean white and black), which connect to the south of Lake Proschansko. To make it easier for you to imagine the scale of the spectacle, I drew a red square as tall as a person walking along the path.

In this article I will tell you how best to organize your visit to Plitvice Lakes, how it is with parking, queues for tickets, accommodation. What is better to take an excursion or go on your own.

The nearest cities with airports are Zagreb, Rijeka and Zadar. It will take only 2-2.5 hours to get from these cities to Plitvice Lakes by car. Vacationers in the region of Rijeka or Zadar can easily visit Plitvice Lakes in one day without spending the night. In the summer season, you can find yourself an excursion to Plitvice Lakes, or you can rent a car and go on your own. You may want to save some money and go to Plitvice Lakes by regular buses, see the bus schedule (in English). In this case, you will also most quickly have to look for an overnight stay on the lakes.

If you are relaxing on the Istrian coast, you can reach the lakes in 4-5 hours by car. In all tourist cities On the Istrian coast, excursions to Plitvice Lakes are offered in summer, such excursions are usually held in one day. Departure of the bus is carried out at 6 - 7 am, return at 22 - 24 hours.

Those traveling by car have the opportunity not to harass themselves with such an extreme mode of the day and plan one or two nights in the Plitvice Lakes region, on the way you can see more. We chose two nights for ourselves, the first day we drove from Pula, examined Slun-Rastoki, swam there in the river, swimming on Plitvice Lakes is prohibited, on the second day we walked entirely along the Plitvice Lakes, spent the night in Slunj (30 km from the Plitvice Lakes), and on the third day we drove towards the house. Fare for toll roads from Pula to Slunj in 2017 amounted to 110 kuna or 1100 rubles.

About the weather in the Plitvice Lakes region

You need to understand that the climate of continental Croatia is very different from the climate on the coast. Palms, cacti, olive groves grow by the sea, there is practically no winter, and on Plitvice Lakes there are mountains, only coniferous and deciduous forests grow, in winter there is snow. Those. be sure to monitor the weather on the lakes on the day of your visit and take additional clothes with you if necessary, it may be much colder there than on the coast, or it may not be, as luck would have it.

In our age of smartphones, you can put a weather informer on your phone, ask it several places of your future deployment and watch the weather there in real time, we did just that. The data is updated via the Internet, which is available in all hotels and even campgrounds.

Where to stay in the Plitvice Lakes Region

Right at the entrance to the ENTRANCE2 park (see the map of the area below) there are three official hotels of the park -

Organized excursions lead only along the route from the entrance ENTRANCE1 to ENTRANCE2 (see the map of the area above), this is the shortest possible route, it usually takes about 3-4 hours to complete... Independent travelers can diversify their lives and choose a longer route for one day, or take 2 days to visit the national park. In August, I would not recommend taking two days for a walk in the park, two days among the crowd is too tiring in my opinion.

The time required to visit the park strongly depends on the current season and the current weather. In winter, not all trails are open in the park, boats and buses do not run, but the prices for entrance tickets fall by half, and the number of visitors is much less than in summer. In the hot summer season, the route will be hindered by crowds of people and queues. The lakes are beautiful at any time of the year and they are different at every time of the year, I would love to visit the national park in winter or autumn.

In fact, there are as many as 9 hiking trails in Plitvice Lakes Park. Route A (total length 3.5 km) is used by everyone, route C is an extended route B. The longest route is K1 (18.3 km). The choice of the route also depends on the weather conditions and the presence or absence of crowds of people. All trails are marked so you won't get lost. Next, I will tell you what we saw walking along route A and C. Of course, the photos cannot convey all the power and beauty natural phenomena and definitely cannot replace a walk in the park.

Photos of Plitvice Lakes Park

This is how the descent to the lakes from ENTRANCE1 looks like. From this path, a fabulous view opens up, which I showed you in the first photo for this article. The photos will be shown sequentially from ENTRANCE1 to ENTRANCE2, this route is marked on the signs with the letter A and runs along the lower lakes. From ENTRANCE2 to ST3 we went further along route C along the upper lakes.

The Croatians are not original in their names, the largest waterfall is called VELIKI SLAP, which simply means a large waterfall, I suspect that it is much deeper in spring. There are bridges at the foot of the mountain, along which people pushed to the platform located at the very foot of the waterfall.

The photo below shows a drawing of Lake Kaluderovac, it describes the local relief better than anything else and illustrates the cascade of lakes with turquoise water. Waterfalls are located between the cascades, the bridges run almost over the very edge of the water, it is not recommended to go off the paths. Firstly, because it is wet and dirty, secondly, in order to protect nature and not trample the local unique flora, and thirdly, we personally saw a small snake in the grass, you should not tempt fate.

Such beauty was able to form due to the unique alternation of geological rocks. Dolomite base, limestone, chalk deposits, tuff have varying degrees of hardness and different degrees of resistance to water erosion, so in places lagoons are formed, and in places barriers of harder rocks create barriers to the flow. This process does not stop for a minute, the formation of lakes and waterfalls continues. If in one place the tuff barrier does not withstand the pressure of water and breaks, then in another place the sedimentary rocks will strengthen the new barrier.

A large amount of calcite is dissolved in the waters of the lakes, crystals of this substance settle on the roots of living trees and dead trunks that have fallen into the lake, contributing to the petrification of the latter.

In the clear water of the lakes, numerous flocks of not frightened fish swim right under your feet.

Waterfalls are crashing down right from under our feet. In general, a picture of fantastic beauty surrounds from all sides.

The photo below clearly shows the walkways and people on them. There were a lot of people in August. In places on the footbridge, there were human traffic jams. After all, next to each waterfall you want to be photographed, so you have to wait until the previous people are satisfied and move on and you will have the opportunity to take their place.

Route A, although it is the most congested with people, it is also the most picturesque.

At the end of the route A queue awaited us, this time the people stood to board the boat and cross big lake Goat. We pushed through there for an hour. You can stand in turns, part of the family wanders around the souvenir shops and cools tired feet in the lake, and the person in charge watches the queue, then you can change.

There are several cafes and stalls near the pier, where you will be offered to taste sandwiches and fries with meat at not humane prices. This is the only place in the park where you can have a bite, the rest of the cafes are located outside the park at the official entrances.

Park tickets are checked when boarding the boat. At this point, you can say that route A practically ends. From the boat you can get off at the first stop and continue your walk in the park, examining the upper lakes, or you can get off at the second stop and you will get to the ENTRANCE2 entrance, take the bus-train there and go to the entrance ENTRANCE1. This will complete the inspection of the lakes. Group excursions are conducted only along this route.

We decided to continue our walk along the upper lakes. It was less crowded there. You won't be able to see anything fundamentally new on route C, everything is the same as in the lower part of the park - waterfalls, cascading lakes with turquoise water. There we saw violators who swam in spite of the prohibitions. No park employees were seen. Further photographs of the upper lakes.

We walked faster along the upper lakes, spent about 2 hours for the whole walk along route C, route A took us 4 hours due to the crowds and queues for the boat. Upon reaching the ST3 bus station, we took the bus-train and went to the parking lot. The crowd at the stop was huge, not everyone managed to get on the bus that came up. This strange vehicle drove us all the time down a very narrow path between rocks on one side and an abyss on the other, in some places it was scary, in the middle of the way it pressed against a cliff to let a similar train going up to ST3 station pass.

To say that we liked Plitvice Lakes very much, it can be said nothing. Plitvice just fabulous place extraordinary beauty... Do not be discouraged if you have the opportunity to visit it only in the fall or winter, you will receive your charge of positive emotions at any time of the year, but in the summer you need to mentally prepare yourself for the fact that another 10,000 people will walk in the park with you.

Tired and overwhelmed with impressions, we went to the store, and then to our apartment. The vacation was inexorably coming to an end, the next day we had a big drive to the side of the house according to the plan. In the next article I will tell you about the Czech city of Olomoutz, which caused ambiguous emotions.

Unique in every way natural object is located in the region of North Dalmatia, in a hollow of mountains covered with virgin beech and spruce forests. A true paradise, Plitvice Lakes National Park attracts about 1.2 million tourists annually. It was visited by the Austrian imperial family: Franz I and his wife Augusta Caroline. And these mesmerizing beauties really dispose to truly royal rest.

The total area of ​​the Plitvice Lakes Park is about 30 hectares. 16 cleanest lakes with clear water all shades of turquoise and emerald are cascaded. They are connected by picturesque waterfalls cascading down the moss-covered slopes. Caves, rapids, streams, relict trees - the beauty of these places exceeds all expectations.

The reserve is home to the largest population of brown bears in Europe. There are amazingly beautiful butterflies and orchids grow here. 77 plant species are found only in the Plitvice Lakes Park. Unique beauty these places are due to the unique geological features.

This corner of nature is strictly protected by the state in its original form, giving an idea to all of us what the entire flora and fauna of the Earth could have remained if it had not been for the destructive impact of human civilization on the biosphere. The forests located here have come down to us since the times when the vegetation cover on our planet had just been formed.

Features of the geology of the park

The Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve is located in the center of the country, administratively part of the Licko-Senj and Karlovatska County (okrug). The nearest town to the attraction is Slunj. Three quarters of the territory of the park - Mountain landscape, namely the northwestern part of the Dinaric Highlands, which stretches for 650 km throughout the territory of the former Yugoslavia up to Albania and the Julian Alps in Italy.

Mountain ranges consist of limestone rocks, through which melt and rainwater very easily passes. At the base of the mountains there is a less permeable dolomite substrate. The water, enriched with calcium of limestone deposits, finds its outlet in the form of the purest streams, turbulent streams and waterfalls.

Communities of bacteria, microorganisms, algae live in the water on mosses, lichens, stones. In the process of vital activity, they release a substance that interacts with calcium carbonate. This contributes to the formation of travertine, of which natural dams are composed. These features give a unique color to the reservoirs.

Trees and branches that fall into the water become covered with calciphiles (chalk plants). Dying off, they harden and, thus, also participate in the formation of so-called natural barriers - solid deposits. This process never stops: if a new natural dam appears in one place, then in another the limestone rapids are eroded by water. As a result of the erosion of these dams, new waterfalls are formed.

All the described processes are possible only in the presence of certain physicochemical and biological factors, therefore, great attention is paid to nature protection in the Plitvice Lakes National Park. Transport works only on electric traction. The rules of conduct here strictly limit human intervention. Forbidden: making fires, catching fish, swimming in water bodies, walking dogs.

Climate and natural landscape of Plitvice Lakes

The reserve is located on the border of the coastal and continental climatic zones. Affects the influence Adriatic sea and an abundance of bodies of water. These factors provide a moderately warm and humid climate. Winter is snowy here. Lakes freeze in January and February. Summers are warm, but the air temperature can be very different (up to 15 degrees) from the temperature on the coast, so be sure to take warm clothes with you. The water temperature in reservoirs rises to 24 degrees.

Most of the territory is mountainous. The highest point of the Plitvice Lakes Park is at 1280 meters, the lowest is at 400 meters above sea level. The cascade of lakes is surrounded by green forests. Depending on the location, the reservoirs are divided into upper and lower lakes. The waters of five rivers flow into them: Korana, Crna, Biela, Plitvitsa, Rijechitsa. The largest reservoirs are: Proschanskoe, Kozyak and Golovats. They contain about 75% of the total volume of the lakes. Tourists are amazed by the transparency of the water and the variety of its shades. If you look at some fallen tree, it seems to float between the bottom and the surface - an indescribable spectacle!

Scientists have proved that one of the two largest lakes - Kozjak, which is over three kilometers long, 400 years ago was two separate bodies of water. But then the dam was flooded. This lake has Stephanie Island, which is 275 meters long and 60 meters wide. In 2008, it was allowed to swim in the reservoir. But the accidents that took place again forced the authorities to impose a ban on this. The second large body of water on the territory is Proscansko jezero, which stretches for 2.5 km. It is noteworthy that many lakes are named ... by the names of drowned people. Some of the names seem funny and even ridiculous. For example, Batinovački, Galovački or Kozjački.

The total number of waterfalls, channels and streams is about 140. The most famous is the large Sastavci waterfall. The water in it comes from two rivers - Plitvitsa and Korana, and it falls from a height of 72 meters. Wooden walkways are laid along the edge of the cliff, in close proximity to it. You can admire this beautiful spectacle from the observation deck on the shore.

There are about 20 caves in the Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve. The most visited and beautiful are those located under the waterfalls. Popular caves among tourists are also: Shupljara (a cave without a bottom and a ceiling), Golubnyacha and Crna. Many enthusiastic and curious people are eager to go deep into the forest or spend a "romantic" night here. This is also prohibited. But on the other hand, you can freely walk on wooden bridges, breathe oxygen-rich air and admire the beauty of pristine nature.

One of the features of Plitvice Lakes is the sound effects generated by the water. She not only habitually murmurs, splashes and drips, but, falling from waterfalls, literally rumbles. Moreover, it falls with such force and in such quantity that fog is formed in the air. But not the one we are used to in the morning, but consisting of the smallest droplets. It is also beautiful here in winter: the reserved place turns into a real kingdom of the Snow Queen.

Flora and fauna

It is surprising that in our time of active environmental pollution, there are still such corners of virgin nature as Plitvice Lakes. The secret lies in the intensified measures taken by the government of the Republic of Croatia to protect it from the "onset of civilization", the strict rules of conduct in the reserve. Part of the territory of Plitvice Lakes is inaccessible to tourists. In addition, the national park is located at a distance from the resort and major cities... The basic principle that its employees adhere to is non-interference. Nature recovers on its own with minimal human effort. This is how the ecological balance is maintained.

The Plitvice Lakes Reserve has the most favorable conditions for the comfortable existence of the richest flora and fauna. There are wonderful beech and coniferous forests in the park. Hornbeam, sycamore, maple, and spruce also grow here. The most famous untouched forest is Chorkova Uvala. There are centuries-old trees with a height of 50 meters and up to one and a half meters in girth. On the territory of the reserve there are about 1260 plant species from 112 families. 22 species are protected by the country's nature protection legislation.

The most beautiful orchid in Europe - Lady's Slipper or Real Slipper - grows in this park. In total, there are more than 50 species of orchids in the reserve. Rare types of buttercups grow in meadows and slopes. There are also predatory plants: round-leaved sundew and pemphigus. There is a wide variety of mushrooms in the forests. Perhaps the most close attention is paid to the protection of algae, lichens, the simplest microorganisms that participate in the process of calcification - the formation of solid deposits.

There are about 12 amphibian species in the reserve. In the lakes and rivers of the Plitvice Lakes Park, there are two species of crabs, crayfish. The bodies of water are literally teeming with fish! Trout, roach and chub swim up to tourists, as if to old acquaintances, without fear. They seem to compete with the ducks, who will be the first to grab the bread slices that visitors are treated to. In the forests there are about fifty species of mammals: shrew, vole, hedgehog, marten. Otters can be seen in the lakes and on the shore. Among the large animals in the park are deer, wolves, roe deer, wild boars, lynxes. And, of course, the most famous inhabitant of the Plitvice Lakes Reserve, its symbol is the brown bear.

Scientists count about 321 species of Lepidoptera, while emphasizing that half have not yet been studied. That is, there are many more of them in the park. Ornithologists have identified about 125 species of birds, more than 70 of them constantly nest on the territory of the reserve.

Representatives of the scientific world regularly hold seminars and meetings to research the behavior of local owls. Also, there are research activities to study bats living in the national park. 21 species of these animals live in various places: under the bark of trees, caves, hollows. The Plitvice Lakes Park even hosts an event within the framework of the annual so-called European Night of the Chiroptera. Its purpose is to draw the attention of the population of the Old Continent to the endangered populations of this only order of placental mammals, whose representatives are capable of active flight.

Undoubtedly, Plitvice Lakes (in Croatian Plitvička jezera) in Croatia is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and the world, which conquers the hearts of tourists at first sight with its untouched beauty and majesty. Many consider this beautiful national park in the center of Croatia, paradise on earth, which pleases tourists with its mountainous terrain, a cascade of lakes, which are connected by waterfalls, under which caves are hidden, and wild animals are walking in the forest. Since 1979, the Plitvice Lakes Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Where are Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes are located in the central part of Croatia, for the most part (90%) in Licko-Senj and to a lesser extent (10%) in Karlovatska County in the north-west of the Dinaric Highlands. The nearest town is Slunj.

For your comfort we have marked Plitvice Lakes on the map below. Read how to get to Plitvice Lakes at the end of the article.

The history of the formation of Plitvice Lakes

Plitvice Lakes were created by nature itself without human intervention. For many years, the turbulent streams of the Koran River made their way through the limestone rock, forming natural dams, travertine barriers, picturesque waterfalls, transparent lakes and mysterious caves.

Plitvetsky Lakes Park

It is not only the biggest, but also most old park in Croatia. The name "Plitvice Lakes" was first discovered in church records dating back to 1777. It was not always possible to freely visit the park, until 1958 it was not accessible to tourists due to the lack of hiking trails.

The Yugoslav wars in 1991 also affected the Plitvice Lakes Park. Fighting took place on its territory. Now the park has been cleared of mines and the infrastructure has been restored.

Scientists are still “racking their brains” as to whether what is the nature of the origin of Plitvice Lakes, therefore, various legends begin to appear among the people. We will share one of them with you.

Plitvice Lakes Legend

Local people tell an amazing legend about the "Black Queen", who asked the sky to send rain to their land during a drought. Upon hearing the request, the sky responded and rainwater filled Plitvice Lakes.

Also, here there is a belief that Plitvice Lakes will exist until at least one bear walks on this land.

Description of the Plitvice Lakes park

Plitvice Lakes National Park covers an area of ​​29,482 hectares. The highest point is considered to be Mala Capela, the peak of which is at an altitude of 1280 meters, and the lowest is located at 450 meters above sea level.

You enter Plitvice Lakes Park from above and descend along a winding path. Around every turn, another amazing landscape awaits you, in which mountains, waterfalls, lakes surrounded by rocks and many representatives of flora and fauna bring variety.

Lakes

The park accommodates many small and 16 large lakes, which are located in cascade, forming a distance from the upper lake to the lower one of 133 meters. The lakes are strikingly clear and have a beautiful azure color. The biggest and the most deep lake Kozjak, its depth is 46 meters, the area is 81.5 hectares, the length is more than 3 kilometers. The next largest is Lake Proščansko, Prošće (Proščansko jezero, Prošće), its depth reaches 37 meters, an area of ​​68 hectares, and it stretches for 2.5 kilometers. It completes the three largest lakes in the Galovac park with an area of ​​12.5 hectares. These three lakes occupy an area of ​​162 hectares, which is 75% of the entire water area (217 hectares) of the park, and they stretch for 8 kilometers.

Lakes are surrounded by limestone mountains and originate from the rivers Crna (Chernaya) and Bela (Belaya), which, among the mountains, connect to the river Matica, which in turn forms the first waterfall. The rivers Plitvica, Riječica and Korana also fill the lakes with water; over the valley of the latter there is an excellent observation deck with stunning views. The lakes are closely interconnected with many waterfalls, passing the columns of water to each other along a chain.

Waterfalls

You will definitely be amazed with its appearance 140 waterfalls, which every year becomes only more due to the fact that the water erodes the rocky rock and breaks new paths for itself.

The main waterfalls are Velike Kaskade, Kozjački, Batinovački, Milanovački, Galovački, Milke Trnine. Rightfully the most beautiful and the most famous waterfall here is Sastavci, which brings down a powerful stream from a height of 72 meters the water of the Korana and Plitvitsa rivers, which feed it.

Caves

Lovers of speleology in the Plitvice Lakes Park will find as many 32 caves, the most interesting of which are located under the waterfalls. The most famous here are three caves: Crna pećina, Golubnjača 165 meters long and Šupljara, which means “a cave without a floor or a ceiling” or “hole cave”). Evidence of ancient people living here was found in the caves.

Forests

Also in the park there are coniferous and unique beech forests. If you want to get into the thickets, then you will most likely be interested in the mixed forest in the town of Čorkova uvala, which is located in the northwestern part of the Plitvice Lakes Park. Total in the park there are 1267 plant species, of which 75 you can find only here. Forests play an important role in protecting soil from erosion, affecting climate and hydrology, participating in oxygen production and storing carbon (greenhouse gases).

They do not clean the forest here, and trees and branches that have fallen into the water will soon turn into new natural obstructions, forming new lakes and waterfalls.

Animals

When it comes to animals that live in the local forests, it immediately comes to mind Brown bear, which is placed on the logo of the park. It has the largest population of brown bears in Europe. In the forest you can also find wolves, forest cats, lynxes, roe deer, red deer, wild boars, badgers, squirrels, pine martens, river otters, dormouse, hedgehogs and other animals (about 200 species), as well as many birds of which there are more than 155 types. Trout swims in the lakes and other types of fish, long accustomed to tourists, who are happy to feed it with bread. Deserves special attention and large population of butterflies, of which there are about 320 species, of which 75 are diurnal.

Climate

From the Adriatic Sea, the Plitvice Lakes Park gets wet sea ​​air. Average annual air temperature is 8.7 ° C, in summer it stays at the level of 25-30 ° C and only on rainy days drops to 15 ° C. The water temperature in summer reaches 24 ° C. In winter, in January and February, the lakes are frozen in ice, and the winter itself here lasts from November to March.

Movement

There are paths throughout the national park and wooden decks that are easy to walk on. You can move around the park not only on foot, but also on electric road trains, pleasure boats and ferries (across the largest lake Kozyak), which do not pollute the environment - they are environmentally friendly. By choosing to travel by vehicle, you will save your energy and see much more, but then you will be deprived of the opportunity to look into the most secluded corners of the park, so the choice is yours.

Not the entire territory of the park is open to tourists- only gamekeepers can get into the protected area. The rest of the park is free to move around and is equipped with benches and waste bins. The largest number of tourists here is, of course, in summer time, but April, May, September and October are much less popular.

The cleanest air beautiful landscapes of mountain lakes with waterfalls you are guaranteed. Come to Croatia to see this natural wonder and take amazing photos with your own eyes. If a tour to Europe is too expensive for you, then for you the most beautiful landscapes of Plitvice Lakes in photographs.

Safety warning

In the forests is found many wild animals, therefore, be careful and it is better not to leave specially marked trails in order to avoid meeting with predators.

Film "Plitvice - Land of Falling Lakes"

We invite you to see a film about Plitvice Lakes National Park, thanks to which you will see all those corners where tourists usually do not get, get to know all the inhabitants of the park and see it in different time of the year.

How to get to Plitvice Lakes

Many travel agencies throughout Europe organize tours to Plitvice Lakes Park. You can book a tour from them.

Routes in the Plitvice Lakes Park

First you need to say that there are 2 entrances to the Plitvetsky Lakes Park- upper and lower (ST1 and ST2), most routes start from the second entrance.

In total, the park provides 7 routes, which are designated by Latin letters (A, B, C, E, F, H, K) and are accompanied by special signs. Everything routes have different lengths and, accordingly, are designed for different times (from 2 to 8 hours). If you have any questions, you can safely contact the park employees who are on duty there.

First route (A)

Duration: 2-3 hours
The route starts from the north entrance to the park (ST1). This is a circular sightseeing route with a visit to the Great Waterfall and Šupljara Cave, as well as canyons and lakes “Novakovića Brod”, “Kaluđerovac”, “Gavanovac” and “Milanovac”. The route ends at the recreation area "Kozjačka Draga" on the lake "Kozjak".

Second route (B)

Duration: 3-4 hours
The route starts from the ST1 entrance and forms a circle, including a visit to the Lower Lakes limestone canyon, an electric ferry ride across the largest lake, Kozjak, a panoramic electric train ride and a walk along the upper eastern part of the canyon. You will of course see Big waterfall(Great Waterfall) and the waterfall “Sastavci” and the lakes “Novakovića Brod”, “Kaluđerovac”, “Gavanovac”, “Milanovac”. The route ends where it starts, at ST1.

Third route (C)

Duration: 4-6 hours
Like the previous routes, route C starts from ST1 entrance and stretches across the lower and upper lakes, including an electric ferry ride and a train ride back. You will see the largest waterfalls such as “Great Waterfall”, “Veliki Prštavac” and “Mali Prštavac” and many smaller ones.

Fourth route (E)

Duration: 2-3 hours
Route start from ST2 entrance and stretches in a circle through the upper lakes. Crossing the numerous bridges, you will enjoy the views of the stunningly beautiful lakes and of course the Great Waterfall, Veliki Prštavac and Mali Prštavac waterfalls. Finally, a panoramic train ride to the starting point of the route awaits you.

Fifth route (F)

Duration: 3-4 hours
The route starts from the south entrance of ST2. First, an electric boat ride on Lake Kozjak will take you to the limestone canyon of the upper lakes and the Great Waterfall. From there, the path leads to the eastern side of the canyon through a very sharp bend, which offers stunning views of crystal-clear lakes and high cliffs. The way back is covered by an electric panoramic train.

Sixth route (H)

Duration: 4-6 hours
The route starts from the ST2 entrance. After a short walk and a panoramic train ride, walk further along the upper lakes, take a boat ride across Kozjak Lake and traverse the lower lakes canyon en route to the Great Waterfall, which is at the top of the canyon on the east side. Then you will have a train ride all the way to the very end of the route.

Seventh route (K)

Duration: 6-8 hours
This route passes through inputs ST1 and ST2, therefore, you can start at any place convenient for you. Length walking route It is 14 kilometers long and is designed for almost the whole day, during which you can go around almost all the attractions of the Plitvice Lakes. This is the longest and the “highest” route, which will give you the most complete impression of the park and you will enjoy the local beauty to its fullest. The route goes through the ascents and descents along mountain paths around fabulously beautiful lakes. Considering that the time to complete the route is rather long, we advise you to take care of an overnight stay in the nearest hotel or apartment in advance.

Whichever one of these seven routes you choose, stunning views and loads of experiences are guaranteed.

Infrastructure

In the Plitvice Lakes region (within a radius of 10 kilometers) there is quite a few hotels(more than two dozen) of different class and price category (from cheap to elite) where you can stay. The nearest hotels are located a kilometer from the national park, which allows you to get from the hotel to this earthly paradise in 5-10 minutes.

On the territory of the park there are a dozen restaurants and cafes, so you will feel comfortable enough even if you forget to take something to eat with you.

What to do in the park

You can take a rowboat and swim on Lake Koziak, overcome the climb to Mount Medvezhak, ride mountain biking, and in winter on alpine skiing and sleigh in the nearest village of Mukino.

Or maybe you don't need all this entertainment, but you want arrange your wedding here? No problem! Just contact the administration by phone: +385 053 751 125 and order this service. We are sure that none of your friends had such a wedding!

Conditions and rules for visiting Plitvice Lakes Park

The park is open to the public every day according to the schedule:
Summer - from 7:00 to 20:00
In spring and autumn - from 8:00 to 18:00
In winter - from 8:00 to 16:00

Please note that the entrance to the Plitvetski Lakes ST2 is only open from April to the end of October.

The entrance to the park is paid. It is possible to pay for the visit both in one day and in two days. Payment is made both in cash and by bank cards. The ticket price already includes a ferry crossing the lake and panoramic train services. If you decide to stay in one of the park hotels, then a very convenient privilege will apply to you - you can absolutely renew your one-day ticket for free contact the hotel administrator (we advise you to check the availability of this option when booking the hotel). You do not need to order tickets in advance, but if you are eating in a group, then it is advisable to do so.

Ticket price for 1 day(for 2014)

* the group must be at least 15 people, the price is indicated per person
** during this period of time, the ferry and the tourist electric train do not work, so you will have to walk in the park on foot

Ticket price for 2 days(for 2014)

Guided tour of the park Plitvetsky lakes will cost 1,000 - 1,500 kuna (depending on the choice of the duration of the excursion 4 or 6 hours). You can book an excursion in 6 languages(Croatian, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish).

You will also have to pay for parking: passenger car - 7 kn / hour, with a trailer or more vehicles- 70 kn / day, but motorcyclists are incredibly lucky - for free.

For, to find out the exact current ticket price you can call the sales office by phone: +385 0 53 751 014 or +385 0 53 751 015

Swimming in the lakes is prohibited just like making a fire, setting up tents, having picnics, listening to loud music, disturbing and feeding animals, throwing garbage, coming with animals without a leash, fishing, plucking plants - everything that can harm the surrounding nature. You can visit the park with dogs, but only if you have a leash. Such strict rules are well founded. the need to preserve this very beautiful place Croatia. The bathing ban came into effect in 2008 due to a large number drowned.

From Istria we went on an excursion to Plitvice Lakes. The tour takes a whole day. We left the hotel at 6 am (breakfast was taken in dry rations), and returned at 8 pm. We spent a little more than three hours on the lakes themselves. The hour took lunch. On the way there was also a tasting of Istrian wines and honey - for half an hour. The rest of the time was occupied by the road, i.e. 4 - 4.5 hours one way.

Road to Plitvice Lakes

However, the road itself is an attraction. It is beautiful and varied, the travel time flew by quickly, accompanied by the guide's stories about the places we passed: about the island of Krk and the Frankopan dynasty, about the city of Senj, the Nehaj fortress and the robbers who raided Istria and Venice.

Landscapes on the way

The modern church hardly stands out among the surrounding houses:

Fortress on the mountain

The island of Krk stretches along the coast through the strait

At first, the road ran along the sea. From the city of Senj we turned east and began to climb the mountains. A scenic road called "Josephine Road" leads inland. It was laid by the Austrian emperor Joseph II, they built a road along the gorge through the Velebit ridge from 1770 to 1789, from Senj to Karlovac (113 km). The 2nd stage of construction in the 19th century was supervised by the engineer Knyazhich.

Having overcome the Vratnik pass, we descended into the valley. The seaside beauty was replaced by the views of mountains, fields, pastures, and small villages.

Finally we arrived at the lakes.

Plitvice Lakes Park: opening hours and ticket prices

Plitvice Lakes is a chain of 16 lakes, which are sandwiched between two mountain ranges and steps flow into one another, forming numerous waterfalls along the way. 5 rivers flow into the lakes.

Plitvice Lakes National Park was formed in 1949. Included in the UNESCO list in 1979.

The park is open every day, seven days a week, from 7 am to 7 pm.

Prices for visiting Plitvice Lakes (2015, 1 kuna = 10.4 rubles).

You can take a ticket for two days

Parking fee is 7 kuna per hour.

You can take a guide. For 4 hours, the guide will cost 900 kn (about 10 thousand rubles, however). For the whole day, with a visit to the Upper and Lower Lakes - 1300 HRK.

Park routes

There are two entrances to the park. The lower one, at number 1, is considered the main one. But it is more logical to enter the park through the upper entrance at number 2 and move from top to bottom. There are information boards in front of the park entrances, which indicate the various routes and the approximate time of their passage. On entrance tickets also shows a diagram of the lakes and how you can get to different parts of the park. There are three piers in the park: P1, P2 and P3, all of them on Kozyak Lake. A boat is drawn on Kozyaka.

Along east coast there is a panoramic train - from Lake Milonovac to entrance No. 2 and higher, to Lake Okruglyak. The diagram shows a locomotive.

There are also trails featuring a crab. I suspect that there must be scrabbled over the rocks.

Opposite the entrance number 2 there is the beginning of the Kozyak lake - the longest of the Plitvice lakes.

Entering the park, we got to the P1 pier.

Pier P2 is located opposite the P1 pier. The boats run frequently. The ferry cost is included in the entrance ticket.

On a boat, we swam across the narrow neck of the lake.

A circular route starts from the P2 pier. Simultaneously with us, a group arrived on the ship Chinese tourists, and we, once on the shore, went in opposite directions: we - clockwise, the Chinese - against, hoping, thus, to avoid crowds and not push. However, it will hardly be possible to avoid the crowds in Plitvice, if only not in season or on remote routes.

The road through the beech forest

The first waterfalls

There are wooden walkways over the lakes without railings. Sometimes you go all alone, but in the most interesting places there will certainly be a crowd of people.

The routes are marked. We chose the marking "boat" - this is a circular route, it leads back to the pier.

There are a lot of fish

Having finished our "ring", we returned to the pier. It took an hour and a half to complete the route.

On the approaching boat we crossed Lake Kozyak.

We are approaching the pier P3

Looking back

From the wide clearing, where we arrived, there were two options for the path: below and above.

We climbed the mountainside and followed the upper path. Unfortunately, the canyon was not always well visible - overgrown tree branches interfered. In especially spectacular places were arranged observation decks... The canyon with lakes and waterfalls looks great.

Those walking along the lower path among the waterfalls are clearly visible

Those who walked the lower path climb these stairs

About an hour's journey along the upper path - and we are at the main entrance (which became an exit for us).

Lunch was at a self-service cafe. The "trick" of this cafe was the menagerie located in the backyard. After lunch, visitors to the cafe went to watch the animals.

Almost immediately after the cafe we ​​stopped for a tasting. In addition to wines, there were various liqueurs and liqueurs: with orange, and with raspberries, and other fruits that grow abundantly on Croatian soil. Of the honey, I remember pine - an unusual coniferous taste, the color is almost black.

We arrived at the hotel for dinner. Some even managed to swim in the sea after dinner. The day ended with a solemnly sad sunset at sea.

I didn’t have the feeling that the excursion was exhausting. The road is long, but it pays off with the beauty of the local landscapes. Plitvice Lakes are a unique natural phenomenon. If I ever have the opportunity, I would like to come there for two days to go around them all, go both above and below, visit the upper lakes and go down to the very bottom.

I looked in the photographs of how the lakes look in other seasons. In autumn - the brightest colors, in winter - phantasmagoria frozen ice... And, apparently, the smallest number of visitors. Well, maybe someday in winter I will pass these icy streams. And then I'll be back in the spring. And also definitely - in the fall.

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