Plitvice Lakes National Park, National park with 16 lakes in Karlovac and Lika-Senj counties, Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park is a protected area in Karlovac and Lika-Senj counties where sixteen turquoise basins connect through cascades across forested hills. The network of paths follows the shorelines and crosses over water, allowing visitors to experience the different levels of the lake system up close.
The site became the first national park in Croatia during 1949 while the region remained under Yugoslav governance. Three decades later, UNESCO recognized the geological formations by granting World Heritage status.
The Croatian name derives from "plitka voda" meaning shallow water, referring to the appearance of the interconnected basins when seen from surrounding hills. Visitors today walk wooden paths that float just above the surface, offering close views of how water shapes the limestone terrain.
The route network includes shorter options for half-day visits and longer variations that take a full day and cover all elevations of the lake system. Sturdy footwear is recommended since wooden platforms can become slippery when wet.
Moss and algae work together to build barriers that slowly convert calcium carbonate in the water into solid travertine, continuously reshaping the lakes. This process moves so slowly that some barriers grow only a few millimeters each year.
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