Plitvice Lakes National Park: An unforgettable experience for every season
If you have a list of the most beautiful places to visit, Plitvice Lakes National Park should be on that list! Balkan country Croatia is known for its beautiful beaches on the Adriatic Sea, but we should also pay a lot of attention to Plitvice Lakes National Park.
The combination of the green color of the forest and the turquoise-blue color of the lake gives you the impression that you are in a real fairy tale! That’s the feeling you get when you visit the lakes in the summer. However, a scene identical to the one from the Ice Queen fairy tale awaits you when you visit the lakes in winter!
There are many reasons why Plitvice Lakes is classified as a National Park. In addition to its 16 enchanting lakes, there are many other reasons why it is important to preserve this natural beauty! That is why on our Balkan trip we will visit the enchanting nature offered by Plitvice Lakes National Park!
The beauty of these lakes can only be experienced live. Photos and descriptions are only part of what Plitvice Lakes will provide you on-site!
Plitvice Lakes National Park: UNESCO World Natural Heritage
The natural wonder of Croatia – Plitvice Lakes spreads over an area of 296 square kilometers. In this area, you can enjoy the emerald green color of the lakes. This untouched natural phenomenon represents a specific geological hydrogeological phenomenon.
To preserve this enchanting nature, authorities declared Plitvice Lakes National Park a National Park in 1949, and UNESCO included it in the World Heritage List in 1979. Today, hundreds of thousands of people from various countries visit Plitvice Lakes to admire its unreal natural beauty!
Natural beauty reflected in large green forests, sandy beaches, and unreal water landscapes greets visitors throughout the Balkans and all Balkan countries. The Lakes National Park shallows have a special beauty because they never look the same!
Namely, Plitvice Lakes have a relief that constantly changes its shape, and thus the appearance of the lake changes as well. The main reason for these changes is erosion and the movement of tectonic plates. Erosion has been around these lakes for thousands of years, and it is still doing so now.
Lake Kozjak
As we know, this National Park has a total of 16 lakes. They are divided into Upper and Lower lakes. The upper lakes are usually smaller than the lower ones and earn their name “Upper” because of their higher altitude. On the other side, there are the Lower Lakes, which are wider but also deeper.
Between these two divisions, there is Lake Kozjak. This lake is considered the deepest and largest lake in the National Park. Its surface is 81.5 hectares, while the depth of the lake is 46.4 meters. Many tourists find navigating this lake with tourist boats a real adventure and an unforgettable experience!
Veliki Slap
The waterfalls at Plitvice Lakes National Park are best known for offering an incredible sight. Every lake has its own larger or smaller waterfalls, and the most famous and the largest waterfall is Veliki Slap or Plitvice Slap. The waterfall is as high as 78 meters and if you are a fan of adventure, it is possible to get close and feel the power of the water falling down the rocks.
What is characteristic of the Plitvice Waterfall is that during the winter this waterfall freezes and thus provides an unforgettable sight. A scene like a fairy tale!
The magical forest of Plitvice Lakes
In addition to the impressive lakes and their unreal colors, Plitvice Lakes National Park would not be so enchanting if it were not for the forests that abound in this area. Forests play a big role in this area. Their influence on hydrological conditions is one of the most significant. With their canopy, forests slow down the surface flow of rainwater and increase the intensity of water absorption into the soil. This reduces the intensity of water loss through evaporation from the soil.
The most common are beech forests, which are a habitat for owls and other birds that use openings in the trees as a shelter and a place to build nests. In addition to the beech forest, there are also common pine forests, beech-fir forests, and black hornbeam forests.
Apart from the beauty they bring to this national park, the forests are a habitat for many plant and animal species. These forests are home to my mammals, birds, and amphibians. During our Balkan trip, a walk through the Plitvice forests and trails is one of the main activities! This will be a great opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy peace.
Activities at Plitvice Lakes National Park
On the surface of 296 square kilometers, it is possible to watch various activities. Many consider that the tour of the Plitvice Lakes itself is an activity that you will enjoy to the maximum. However, many other activities will allow you to get to know Plitvice Lake National Park.
Hiking, cycling, rowing, and even skiing are activities that you will truly enjoy! There are hiking trails in Plitvice Lake National Park. The equipment and arrangements allow even beginners to safely engage in this activity. There are large and small trails, so you can choose the trails that suit you best. There is a special rule of behavior during hiking, the most important of which is that you don’t hike alone and, of course, that you don’t leave trash behind!
Tourists wishing to visit Plitvice Lakes by bicycle must first familiarize themselves with the permitted cycling routes. The bike paths are well-marked and most importantly, they are safe!
Plitvice Lakes National Park shows the beauty and power of nature in every season! As we said at the beginning of our blog, during the winter days, Plitvice Lakes look like a fairytale Ice Queen. During the winter, ice formations form all over the waterfalls and lake shores. Jokes trails covered in snow add even more charm when touring!
This area is ideal for skiing, and there is a ski resort called Mukinje. The length of the trails at this ski resort is approximately 400m, and in addition to skiing, it is possible to snowboard and sled!
The legend of the origin of Plitvice Lake
Many legends and stories told throughout the Balkans and Balkan countries leave us all breathless. Even Plitvice Lakes National Park was not bypassed by the story of their origin.
According to legend, in the place where Plitvice Lakes are now, there was a great drought. The locals were powerless and all they could do was hope and pray that the drought would end as soon as possible. The Black Queen, residing in the valley, decided to bring wind and thunder to make rain fall on the earth.
Rain fell day and night without stopping until it formed the lakes, which still fascinate with their beauty to this day. That’s how the people survived, and the kindness of the Black Queen endures today in the form of unreal natural beauties!
Conclusion
If you want to visit all of Plitvice Lakes, you will need four to five hours! One of the main goals of Balkland is to introduce all our passengers to all the natural beauties of the Balkans! Therefore, our Balkan trip and other Balkan Tours, include a tour of many unreal natural beauties!
Plitvice Lakes National Park is an essential stop if you are visiting Croatia. Go with us on our Balkan adventure and take with you an unforgettable experience!
Hi, I’m Mike—co-founder of Balkland and your on-the-ground tour leader. I’m involved from the first message to the final farewell, making sure everything feels effortless and every day feels designed around you.