Its splendour is breathtaking. It is no exaggeration to say that it is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and beyond. When UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site back in 1979, it cited its “outstanding natural beauty”.

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is Croatia’s first and largest national park. It was established by law back in 1949. However its magnetic charm had been noticed much earlier. Already back in the 19th century, Plitvice Lakes were famous for tourists. The first hotel there was built in 1896 (at present there are four hotels in the Park). Today, it is considered one of Croatia’s biggest tourist attractions – which is a prestigious title in a country as popular as Croatia. In 2008, the Park was visited by close to one million visitors.

Surrounded by three mountains, Pljesevica, Mala Kapela and Medvedjak, the Plitvice Lakes National Park extends over some 300 km2 and comprises sixteen lakes separated by natural travertine dams. The travertine was the other reason cited by UNESCO when endorsing Plitvice. The site was acclaimed for its “undisturbed production of travertine through chemical and biological action".

As the webpage of the National Park states, Plitvice Lakes are a “phenomenon of karst hydrography”. The travertine is produced by the moss, algae and bacteria in the water. According to experts, the last ten thousand years were crucial for the creation of the travertine barriers. Plants continually pile up and create the natural barriers which separate the lakes. Estimated 1cm of travertine is built up per year.

“There are water, lakes, waterfalls and forest elsewhere, but Plitvice Lakes are unique; they simply must be seen", the webpage of the Plitvice Lakes National Park cites the words of Croatian academic Ivo Pevalek from 1937.

The water captures with its brightness and colour. The lakes change colour though; it is said they change it constantly. It can range from azure, blue, to green, or at times grey. The changes result from the presence of minerals or organisms in the water, reflecting the sunrays.

Despite the occasional bear which a (very unlucky) visitor might encounter in the deep forests around the Plitvice Lakes, the park is a place of perfect tranquility. This is probably a quality which is essential to describing its beauty. Serenity derives from the water. From its stillness, its quiet flow, the dance of the fishes, and even from the fresh thunder of its waterfalls. The highest of the waterfalls, the highest in Croatia, is Veliki Slap. With its 78 meters of height, it is one of the major attractions for the tourists.  It is especially magnificent in spring time, when melting snows boost its power.

In addition to brown bears, the Park’s residents also include wolves, wild cats, lynxes, and even eagles. The over 120 species of birds to be found in the Park also include the capercaillie.

Research of the Plitvice bears started as far back as in the early ‘80s. From there it has expanded into other national parks in Croatia. According to researchers, bears move on a territory which is much larger than the Park itself, so they constantly get in and out of the Park confines. Hence, it can not be said that the Park would have “its own” bears. According to estimates by the Park authority, some 20 bears are in the park at any given time, and the wider area around the Park can host up to fifty brown bears.

The sixteen lakes in Plitvice are divided in upper and lower lakes. Twelve are in the upper cluster and four in the lower one. With depth of up to 37 meters and surface of 68 hectares, Proscansko is the largest of the upper cluster lakes. It is outweighed only by Kozjak.  Up to 47 meters deep and with area of 81.5 hectares, Kozjak is not only the largest of the lower lakes, but also the largest Plitvice lake overall.

Although it starts late, spring is said to be the best time in Plitvice. As the water slowly warms up, it awakens a universe of spring blooming flowers. 

Early summer is already the time for the Plitvice Lakes Marathon. Organised by the Park authority, the Plitvice Marathon celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010. The event took place on 5 June, and tracks of 42, 16, and 5 km were possible. 

The legend about Plitvice Lakes says that they were created after a terrible drought. People prayed and prayed for rain. Then, the Black Queen appeared, took mercy on the poor folk, and with strong thunder produced rain. The rain fell and fell for so long, that it created the lakes. They still stand there as a proof of nature’s stunning talent to create beauty.