National Parks

Many national parks are the absolute tourist attractions of rich and various nature of Croatia’s natural patrimony. They include vast areas, characterized by
a particular, natural, cultural, educational, aesthetic and tourist value. Here, it

is forbidden to practice all those activities considered dangerous for the natural
environment and landscape (flora and fauna). Three of eight Croatian natural
parks are situated on islands (Brijuni, Kornati and Mljet), three on mountains (Risnjak, Velebit and Paklenica) and two along rivers and lakes (Krka and Pltivice
Lakes).

Plitvice Lakes
Plitvice lakes create the most famous Croatian national park that UNESCO
classified as the cultural patrimony of humanity. This park’s principle attractions,
unique in the world, are the sixteen small lakes, connected to each other by
several waterfalls. Creation of these lakes is due to a particular calcareous
sediment deposition. The source of Korana river is within the park itself, surrounded by sharp pain beech, fir and red fir forests. Besides lakes and
forests, there are also numerous caves, sources and lawns in the park; among
many animal species, it is easy to meet brown bear. Special vehicles allow
visitors a full immersion into  the nature, that with the park’s strategic position
(located near the road connecting Zagreb to Dalmatia), make this place one of
the most visited Croatian destinations.

Krka
Krka is surely one of the most extraordinary rivers that flows through the Karstic Croatian regions. It is famous for its numerous waterfalls, created as same as
those of Plitvice Lakes, through the calcareous sediment depositions. This
national park comprehends the major part of the river flow and also the area of
the historic town of Skradin, where the riverbed transforms itself into a deep sea
bay. The river flows through deep ravines born on the Karthoch lowland and
creates numerous lakes, particularly between the two biggest and most beautiful
waterfalls: Skradinski buk and Rosko slap.

Kornat
The Kornat Isles are located in Northern Dalmatia not far away from the town of
Sibenik. It is the most articulated archipelago in the whole Mediterranean Sea.
It contains 140 rock-cliffs, isles and deserted isles with a total surface of about
70 sqkm. Near the Kornat National Park we can find the Croatian jewel, the
Telacisca Natural Park, with its ample and deep homonym bay, also under
protection like Dugi Otok island. The Kornat isles are famous for their relieves with various, particular, eccentric forms and their high cliffs.

Brioni
Brioni is an archipelago that includes two bigger islands and twelve small ones,
situated in front of the western Istrian coast, not far from Pula. The whole
archipelago has a surface of 7sqkm and it is, with surrounding sea, a protected
zone. The Brioni Islands are famous for their luxurious Mediterranean vegetation
and it is partly organized as a safari-park. Their extraordinary beauty make them
an attractive and favourite destination for Heads of State and Government and
also for international aristocracy exponents.

Mljet
Mljet is an isle located in the extreme south of Croatia, west from the city of
Dubrovnik. It is the most famous Croatian tourist resort. The homonymous
national park includes the western side of the Adriatic Sea, considered by many
people the most fashionable one. In this park there is a very luxurious
Mediterranean vegetation and two deep bays, Veliko and Malo Jezero, lakes
known for their narrow connection to the sea.

Velebit
The Velebit National Park has a surface of over 2000 sqkm and it is the greatest
protected area in Croatia. On this extraordinary mountain, one of the most
important in Europe, famous because of its variety, unique for its relieves and
its rich flora and fauna, there are a lot of natural attractions. This park can be
considered one of the Croatian pearls. Entire rocky chain, over 150 km long, is
protected and declared by UNESCO as “biosphere world reserve”, the only one

in Croatia by now.

Paklenica
Paklenica includes the most spectacular parts of Velebit mountain where its
highest tops are located. The main park attractions are two deepest ravines
dug in the mountain, Velika and Mala Paklenica, that extend up the breathtaking
highness into the sea.

Risnjak
Risnjak is a mountainous massif rich with forests, near the town of Rijeka.
Its name derives from “iris” and “lynx”, its most famous inhabitants. The
homonymous national park reaches the altitude between 300 and 1500 mt
above sea level. Its particular position, between Alps and Dinaric Alps from one
side and between the Mediterranean area and the Pannonian Plain from the
other, shows on this park’s limited surface all kind of woods, located in different
regions, and numerous animal species and plants.