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Croatia |
tour provided by: Nicola Moretto |
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Preface
The following article on Plitvice Lakes
appeared in the tourism section of CROATIA TODAY, a newsletter of the Embassy
of Croatia in Washington, D.C.:
Plitvice Lakes, one of the
best known of all Croatian national parks, is situated in the eastern part
of Lika between Mount Mala Kapela and Mount Pljesivica, about 85 kilometres
from Zagreb. The lakes cover about two square kilometres, while the entire
park covers an area of 200 square kilometres. The Plitvice Lakes are one
of the most beautiful examples of the Croatian karst, and for their clear
water's extraordinary blue color and majestic shimmer, which results from
these limestone deposits. The lakes were known around the world for the
weddings held there once a year- couples in their native costumes were
married in boats under the largest waterfall. Even Jacques Cousteau knew
of the lakes, and remarked that he could not believe "that such almost-untouched
beauty exists here in Croatia, in the heart of Europe."
Structurally, the Lakes
themselves are composed of 16 inter-linked miniature lakes, which are then
divided into upper and lower sections. The natural tierical arrangements
of these various sections remind many of the river locks used by early
American settlers to navigate the thousands of waterways that transverse
the United States. But beyond that, the tiered (graded) system also plays
an important ecological role for the ecosystem around it. As the magnificent
waterfalls and cascades overflow into one another, enormous barriers of
limestone are deposited throughout the lakes, thus creating an ecological
environment that is "alive" with thousands of micro-organisms, like algae
and moss, directly contributing to its maintenance and repair. Not only
is it beneficial to the environment, it also provides the Plitvice Lakes
with a magnificent color. The surrounding flora also enhances the lakes'
natural beauty. Over three quarters of the National Park is covered by
thick and lovely forests, of maily beech, fir, spruce and white pine trees.
The dense forest provides shelter and subsistence to hundreds of species
of plants and wildlife, including more than 120 varieties of birds. Recognizing
the significance of one of Croatia's natural wonders, the government has
taken steps to protect Plitvice Lakes ecological preserve from misuse and
neglect. Stringent regulations were placed on all the industries around
the Plitvice Lakes. Hunting, fishing, lumbering and automobile traffic
(except sailboating and riding on the trains and in coaches provided by
the national parks) were prohibited. Later, in 1949, the Lakes' beauty
was officially recognized by a law declaring the Plitvice Lakes a national
park. That legislation marked the first direct efforts of Croatian authorities
to pay special attention to the preservation of the environment, its natural
resources, and its rarities. Protection of the Lakes was further enforced
in 1979, as the international community passed legislation to include the
Lakes on the World List of the Natural Heritage of UNESCO, thereby mandating
that it be placed under the protection of the world organization as a natural
resource of the highest category, comparable to famous natural wonders
like Yosemite National Park in California and "the Natural Bridge" in Virginia.
Tour
Starting point: Trieste (I)
Follow the direction to the
line border to Slovenia (SLO), take the N12 road, direction Kozina - Obrov
- Podgrad and reach the line border with Croatia (HR).
The first village you meet
is Rupa, go straight (direction Lipa) and then trough narrow roads you
reach Čavle and Gornje Jelenje (if you want shorter and faster way take
the E63 Rupa - Rijeka and then the E65 up to Delnice).
From Delnice go straight
for the E65, follow for Skrad - Moravice and then turn right direction
Vrbovsko - Ogulin - Oštarije.
From here the roads are
quite narrow and a full of curves.
After Josipdol follow direction
to Plaški - Saborsko - Plitvička Jezera.
For the back home trip we
want to reach the sea for take a bath: from Plitvička Jezera take direction
Plitvički Ljeskovac - Gornji Babin Potok and follow the N52 up to Otočać,
now take the E50 trough Žuta Lokva - Senj.
Now you are directly up the
beautiful coast and in front of you there is the isle of Krk. Follow the
main road up to Novi Vinodolski - Rijeka, then reach Rupa and taking the
E63 go back up to Trieste (I)
about 1000 KM
Camping
HOTEL BELLEVUE
telephone: +385 53 751 700
telefax: +385 53 751 013
HOTEL JEZERO
tel: +385 53 751 400
fax: +385 53 751 600
HOTEL PLITVICE
telephone: +385 53 751 100
telefax: +385 53 751 165
MOTEL GRABOVAC
telefon: 053/ 751-999
telefax: 053/ 751-892
CAMPSITE KORANA
tel: +385 53 751 888
fax: +385 53 751 882
Sights in the area
Special tips
-
Take a good map (1:300.000)with you.
-
There was the war 1992-1995:
from Ogulin to Plitvička Jezera up to Otočać the road are a little bit
damaged and you find damaged and empty houses and buildings, cemeteries
near to the roads, some mined fields inside the woods (yellow ribbon).
Take care and have respect.
-
Take some time for your experience.
Pictures
Pictures of croatia/ Plitvice lakes
Pictures: 10
build: 6. November 2002
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