Nature of Croatia - national parks and reserves for active recreation

The flora and fauna of Croatia are incredibly rich. The country is one of the most environmentally friendly in Europe. The locals are proud of this status and are doing everything to enlarge the area of ​​national parks and reserves. One of the most unique natural places in Croatia are Plitvice Lakes located near the town of Slunj. In this place, a huge number of adventure films were shot. Thousands of tourists come here every year. The national park is a complex of lakes and waterfalls that have arisen as a result of the heap of natural dams on the Koran River. In total, there are 16 lakes and about 140 waterfalls in the park. Tourists will also be able to descend into the numerous caves around the waterfalls. Wolves and bears live in the park, and, therefore, it is necessary to travel strictly along hiking trails.

Another unique place is Paklenica National Park situated in the rocky mountains of Northern Dalmatia, not far from Zadar. The park is widely known for its numerous canyons and rocks. This place is popular among fans of rock climbing. The most picturesque canyons are Mala Paklenica and Velika Paklenica. One of the highest and most famous cliffs of the park is Anica Kuk. It enjoys an incredible popularity among tourists. A huge number of people come to climb the peaks of Vigansky Vrch and Sveto Brdo every year. In the karst caves of Paklenica, there was a potential refuge for the Yugoslav government in case of war in the 50s of the 20th century.

The Brioni Archipelago is one of the most picturesque places in all of Europe. It is a group of islands in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Istria. There is another national park of the country. In total, the archipelago embraces 14 small islands. Unlike most other lands, Brioni are covered with plains and vegetation, which has made them attractive for living since the Bronze Age. Today, you can find traces of the ancient Roman civilization on the islands. The landmarks include the temple of Venus, the Roman prison, and the Roman palace built 2 thousand years ago. All year round, you can see flowering oleanders, as well as myrtles, eucalyptus, rosemary, oaks, and olive trees. Currently, locals work to create an ecologically clean resort on basis of the archipelago. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Kornati is another national park located on the archipelago of the same name. The island is very popular among yachtsmen and divers. Its popularity is easily explained by the richest underwater world. The bottom off the coast features the reefs forming fanciful labyrinths. There, you can find corals, pearls and various kinds of fish. Different birds inhabit the shores; gannets, owls, falcons, and buzzards are among them. The island of Mljet in South Dalmatia is also a national park. The first mention of this place can be found in the records of ancient Greek seafarers. There are two picturesque lakes with salt water on the island. In the middle of the Great Lake, there is a small island. A monastery was built there in the 12th century; it has amazingly survived to our days.

There is also a huge number of natural parks in the country. One of the most famous is the Velebit Park, which features a mountain range of the same name. There are two national parks, North Velebit and Paklenica. The relief of Velebit is represented by high sharp rocks with numerous caves. The length of the deepest is about 1300 meters. In the eastern part of Croatia, the Kopacki Rit Nature Park is located. Most of its territory is covered with swamps and lakes. The forest is home to more than 250 different species of birds, as well as reindeer, wild boars, weasels, sables, leopard cats, and badgers. Those who wish to go fishing on one of the lakes, have to get a permit.