NATIONAL PARKS and NATURE RESERVES 

NATIONAL PARKS

The  Risnjak  National  Park

West of Karlovac near the  village  of  Delniceis the beginning of the National Park.  It covers an area of craggy, forested mountains with the 1528m

Roaming around the forested hills above are deer, bears, wolves and wild boar.

The park is very well organised with two entrances, marked paths and ferry boats. From entrance 1 at the northern end it is a ten minute walk to the Veliki slap – a stunning waterfall and the parks most dramatic feature.  Signposted tracks lead to the base of the waterfall, passing the top of the Sastavci waterfall on the way, which drops into the Korana gorge.From Veliki slap follow paths down to the lower cascades.Walk around the western shore of the largest of the lakes – Kozjak – and you will come to:- Entrance 2 which is the starting point for the highest of the lakes – Proscansko - which overflows into smaller lakes and pools before arriving at the Kozjak below.

A truly stunning environment in which to spend some time!!

The  Brijuni  Islands

Both islands are nature conservation areas and therefore visits are controlled.

Organised day trips from Fazana on the mainland take you around Veli Brijun on a tourist train stopping off at the points of interest, and boat trips from Pula harbour offer swimming and fish picnic excursions to Mali Brijun.

The Northern  Velebit  National  Park

Following the coast of the Kvarner Gulf for some 100km the 1,758m high Velebit mountain chain is a forbidding wall of stark, grey cliffs with only a couple of areas of forest and pasture land below the summit.  

Two areas have been awarded National Park status – Northern Velebitand Paklenica.

The  Northern Velebit  National Park  covers an area of 109 square kilometres and has been protected since 1999. Bear Cubs play in their natural habitat.

It is fast becoming a popular hiking spot, with numerous waymarked

trails and well maintained mountain huts.

The parks most impressive feature is two rock formations that spread over 1220 acres of limestone peaks with 150 underground pits.  The deepest of these at 1392m is Luka’s Cave.

The weather in the northern Velebit can be unpredictable – it may be sunny on the coast, but a storm could be raging at the summit so take all the proper safety precautions!!

The  Paklenica  National  Park

The park falls into 3 different climate regions – coastal, continental and sub-alpine which results in sometimes unpredictable or extreme weather.

The park is made up of two limestone gorges with 400m high cliffs, the Velika Paklenica and Mala Paklenica which run down to the Adriatic. Mala Paklenica has been left undeveloped to preserve its wilderness – paths are not maintained or way marked. Entrance to Velika Paklenica is about 2km from Starigrad. The path runs along the valley below towering cliffs and passes through elm and beech forests arriving at a cavern complex 500m long packed with stalactites.

Continuing on from here are a couple of mountain huts for shelter before attempting the serious peaks above. The highest peak Vaganski vrh 1758m gives stunning views but a climb only for the reasonably fit.

The  Kornati  National  Park

This group of 90 or so islands were given national park status in 1980.  The archipelago is grouped around the largest island – Kornati, 35km long. The islands were originally owned by the noblemen of Zadar who allowed the peasants of nearby Murter to raise sheep and grow olives in return for a share of the produce, but with the decline of the nobility the islands were sold to the people of Murter. 

Nowadays the islands are used as summer retreats and yachting is becoming the most popular pastime with a couple of well equipped marinas.

Day trips are arranged from nearby Murter, with boat excursions weaving in and out of the islands, stopping for swimming and giving time to try the local fare.

The  Krka  National  Park

The  Krka  National Park  was proclaimed a national park in 1985, and covers 109 square kilometres along the course of the River Krka.

The park stretches along the Krka valley from Knin to Skradin, but the most visited area is 12km out of Sibernik just east of Skradin.  The River Krka flows through the valley by a series of waterfalls to a small canyon and then onto the town of Skradin and the mouth of the river at Sibernik.  

Because of its position the park enjoys a Mediterranean climate and has a rich and diverse flora and fauna. 860 species and sub-species of plants have been recorded as growing in the park. Eighteen kinds of fish live in the  Krka  River, the reedbeds and water meadows are home to amphibians and water birds, whilst reptiles live in the surrounding forests.

This is an important area for bats – 18 species live here, many of them endangered or facing extinction in other parts of  Europe!

Within the national park there are monasteries, water-mills and the remains of medieval fortresses.    There are two main entrances to the park, one at Skradin  and the other at Lozovac. From Skradin there are two options to reach the Skradin Falls ( Skradinski buk) – a twenty minute boat trip along the river, or a pleasant gentle walk for 4km along the bank of the river, taking about 50 minutes. Skradinski buk is a 500m series of 17 mini waterfalls cascading from pool to pool surrounded by semi-submerged trees and reeds. One of the most dramatic sights is found a short walk from the boat mooring, where there is a large, clear pool with several tiers of waterfall cascading into it.  Swimming is allowed here – so go prepared! From here the path meanders through the forest, over wooden walkways, passing the many waterfalls on the way and up to the top of the fall. At the top of the fall there is the option of following a path leading back down to the boat mooring or on to the other entrance at where shuttle buses take you to the other entrance at Lozovac.  From here boat excursions go to up the northern stretch of the river, and on to the islet of Visovac, where the monastery housing a 15^th century illustrated copy of Aesop’s Fables -  one of only three in the world -  is found nestling amongst the trees. Another boat excursion leaves from here, continuing 10km upstream to the Roski slap, another set of waterfalls only slightly less stunning than Skradinski buk. The final boat excursion from here follows a rugged canyon to the Krka monastery on the western bank of the river. 

The  Mljet  National  Park

Set on the  island  of  Mljet  and accessible by ferry from Dubrovnik the national park is an unspoilt area of Mediterranean forest and saltwater lakes. The main attraction in the park is the two lakes surrounded by forests.  They are in fact inlets from the sea which together form a 4km long stretch of water. Both lakes have cycle/footpaths around their shores, and the water is clear and clean for swimming.

From the town of Polace there is a pleasant forest path which leads over the hill to the lakes and takes about 45 minutes. From Pomena a ten minute walk takes you to the smaller lake – Malo jezero – and ten minutes further on you reach the small bridge going over the inlet to Veliko jezero – the larger of the lakes, a delightful walk along tree lined paths.

Boat trips leave from to St Mary’s  Island where  there is a twelfth century monastery with a pleasing café in the grounds.

NATURE RESERVES

The  Lonjsko  Nature  Park

To the west of Zagreb lies the Lonjsko polje, an area of wetland to the east of the River Sava.  The region has wooden houses, nesting storks, oak forests and pasture land.

The area turns into a swamp in spring and autumn when the tributaries of the River Sava flood and break their banks giving the ideal conditions for spoonbills, herons and storks.

The area between Sisak and Jasenovac was given national park status in 1999.

The Kopacki rit  Nature  Park

The wettest time is spring and autumn when the marshes are filled with spawning fish, a feast for the cormorants and grey herons that flock here. Black storks can be seen during the nesting season in the oak forests. You can drive or walk through the park, but perhaps more will be seen by taking a boat trip. The main road into the park runs along the top of a dyke which separates the commercial fishponds on one side from the sunken forest of  Lake  Sakadason the other, with wading birds along the shore line. Tracks from here lead to the oak forest where deer and wild pigs run free.

The Zumberak-Samoborsko gorje  Nature  Park

North of Karlovac on the Slovene border is the Zumberak region, an area of steep hills covered with vineyards, and wooded valleys interspersed with sheep and corn fields.

The centre of the Zumberak has been designated a nature park and with its dense forests, rivers and small population it has a very rural feel.

The villages are small, isolated and scattered, some of them down a gravel track that looks as if it leads nowhere. Many of the houses are half-timbered and wooden barns with open sides to dry the hay. It certainly feels like stepping back in time to a more relaxed, laid back, stress free time!!

The  Biokovo  Nature  Park

Behind Makarska lies an area of olive groves, orchards and old stone villages set on the steep slopes leading up to the grey ridge of Biokovo.

The Biokovo mountain range runs for 50km along the coast, with its highest summit of Sveti Jure 1762m behind the town of Makarska.

Much of this area falls into the Biokovo Nature Park which was formed to protect the unusual combination of pine forests, scrub land and arid, desert like areas.

There are numerous pleasant tracks for cycling or walking, leading around the nature park as well as the strenuous ascent of the Sveti Jure itself.

The  Biokovo  Botanical Garden  is at the end of a well marked path from Makarska – a pleasant 70 minute walk just above the hamlet of Kotisna with stunning views over the coast to the islands of Brac and Hvar in the distance.

The  Medvednica  Nature  Park

Just north of Zagreb is the mountain range of Medvednica, 1033m high at the summit. It is the city’s main recreational area, with preserved beech and fir forests, caves and streams running through beautiful valleys 

Papuk

Telascica  Nature  Park

Ucka

On the east of the Istrian peninsula is the 1401m high Ucka mountain, awarded nature park status to protect the landscape.  There are many well marked hiking routes up and around the mountain as well as maps for hikers and a mountaineering guide.

Velebit

The Velebit mountain chain follows the coast of the  Kvarner  Gulf  for some 100km; it is the biggest and most beautiful in rising to 1758m.  Due to its landscape, plant and animal life it has been declared a World Biosphere Reserve and as such is the largest protected area in the country. The reserve also embraces both the Paklenica and  Northern  Velebit  National  Parks.

Vrana  Lake (Vransko jezero)

The largest natural lake in , just 1km inland and not far from Zadar.  The lake is 13km long and due to its proximity to the sea it contains both fresh and sea-water fish. Wading birds such as herons and ibises enjoy the lake alongside ducks, coots, bullfinches and terns. The northwest corner of the lake is designated a strict ornithological reserve due to the presence of a colony of purple herons.