Plitvice Lakes is the oldest and largest national park in the Republic of Croatia. The park is situated in
the mountainous region of Croatia, between the Mala Kapela mountain range in the west and
northwest, and the Lička Plješivica mountain range to the southeast. Administratively, the park falls
within two counties: Lika-Senj (90.7%) and Karlovac (9.3%).
With its exceptional natural beauty, this area has always attracted nature lovers, and already on 8
April 1949, it was proclaimed Croatia’s first national park. The process of tufa formation, which
results in the building of the tufa, or travertine, barriers and resulted in the creation of the lakes, is
the outstanding universal value, for which the Plitvice Lakes were internationally recognised on 26
October 1979 with their inscription onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. In 1997, the boundaries of
the national park were expanded, and today it covers an area just under 300 km2.
The park is primarily covered in forest vegetation, with smaller areas under grasslands. The most
attractive part of the park – the lakes – cover just under 1% of the total park area.
The lake system is comprised of 16 named and several smaller unnamed lakes, cascading one into
the next. Due to the geological substrate and characteristic hydrogeological conditions, the lake
system has been divided into the Upper and Lower lakes. The twelve lakes forming the Upper Lakes
are: Prošćansko jezero, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Veliko jezero, Malo jezero, Vir, Galovac,
Milino jezero, Gradinsko jezero, Burgeti and Kozjak. These lakes were formed on impermeable
dolomite rock, and are larger, with more indented and gentler shores than the Lower Lakes. The
Lower Lakes, consisting of the lakes Milanovac, Gavanovac, Kaluđerovac and Novakovića Brod, were
formed in permeable limestone substrate, cut into a deep canyon with steep cliffs. The lakes end in
the impressive waterfalls Sastavci, with the Korana River springing under the base of the falls.