Risnjak National Park, National park in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia.
Risnjak National Park covers forested mountains and valleys in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in northwest Croatia. The landscape runs from 220 to 1,528 meters in elevation, with hiking paths threading through dense beech forests and across limestone rock.
Botanist Joseph Standler from Budapest began the first scientific survey of the plant life in these mountains in 1825. Later researchers continued the work until the Croatian government officially declared the area a national park in 1953.
The name comes from the Croatian word for lynx, a predator that roams through the wooded mountain slopes. Visitors today see signage and information boards pointing to the wildlife and the importance of the protected area for these rare species.
The visitor center in Crni Lug village provides maps and information about marked hiking trails and nature programs. The park is open year-round, but the best hiking conditions come in spring and autumn when trails are dry and weather is mild.
The mountains divide the Adriatic coast from the continental interior and thus receive exceptionally heavy rainfall. This weather pattern creates dense fog banks that gather between the peaks in the morning and can reduce visibility to just a few yards.
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