National Park Plitvice

Plitvice Lakes National Park is a distinctive geological and hydrogeological phenomenon of karst. The complex of the Plitvice Lakes were declared a national park in 8th April 1949. year. It is the largest, oldest and most popular Croatian national park. It represents a forested mountain area where Threaded 16 small and large crystal blue lakes. Lakes receive water from numerous rivers and streams, and they are all connected by cascades and waterfalls. Travertine barriers, which are made in the period of about ten thousand years, are one of the fundamental features of the park. The special geographical location and specific climatic conditions have contributed to the emergence of many natural phenomena and rich biological diversity. Travertine sediments were formed from the Pleistocene to the present sinkholes and depressions in the surrounding mountains. Upper Lakes to the south is predominantly composed of dolomite and Lower Lakes in the north of the limestone rocks.Vast forest areas, exceptional lakes and waterfalls, flora and fauna, mountain air, contrasting autumn colors, trails and wooden bridges and more a unique area that was declared a UNESCO world heritage in 1979. was among the first in the world.

The National Park consists of 16 lakes, which are stepwise and descend into one another in a series of 5460 m by air. Lakes are divided into Upper and Lower Lakes. The upper lakes are Proscansko, Ciginovac, Okrugljak, Batinovac, Big Lake, Little Lake, Vir, Galovac, Milino, Gradinsko Lake, Big Burget and Kozjak. The lower lakes are Milanovac Gavranovac, Kaludjerovac and Novakovic Brod.Watering the lake water of the Black and White rivers with tributaries and rivers and its tributaries. There are many sources where water flows abundantly. These are typical karst springs occurred on faults of permeable and impermeable geologic formations.The largest lake is Kozjak with 81.5 acres of land, also the deepest with 47 m Proscansko is the second largest, and extends from south to north for a distance of 2.5 km.On the upper lakes is mainly dolomite geological structure and the underside of the limestone. The cave is about 30 Travertine barriers which divide one from another lake of limestone deposited from water. Build travertine barrier is very sensitive and fragile and requires a high degree of protection. Three main elements are: an abundance of water, tufa and travertine. Without water there would be no lakes or waterfalls or lush vegetation. Tufa plants, which produce travertine walls and change the shape of the lake and lake bed. Travertine barriers are biological phenomena of exceptional beauty.
One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Plitvice - falls between Milanovac and Gavanovca called "waterfall Milka Trnina" by the Croatian operatic prima donna.Underground configuration Plitvice Lakes is comprised of various geological features. The whole area of ​​National Park belongs to the karst region of Southeast Europe. A typical feature of the fragile and porous rocks, mainly limestone and dolomite. This configuration is a rich variety of geomorphological phenomena such as sinkholes, karst valleys, bays, sinkholes, cracks, etc.So far, little is known about it and just need to follow scientific research. Most of the karst natural phenomenon takes place underground, where there is plenty of water. There are systems developed underground river underground. When water encounters impermeable rock, coming to the surface.

National Park is rich in karst rocks (mainly limestone and dolomite). Than several caves, the caves are open to visitors Golubnjaca (145 m) and Supljara (68 m) above the lake Kaludjerovca. Other caves are dark cave (160 m), Villa Jezerkinje cave (104 m) and Golubnjaca Homoljackom the field (153 m). Within the national park, there are several caves, such as Cudinka (-203 m) or pits on Vrsic (-154 m, length 110 m). In the cave-Rodic Sertic Valley in a dark cave in the Lower Lakes, were found bones of cave bears.The phenomena of lakes are the result of centuries-old process and the deposition of limestone, which is abundantly present in the waters of the karst area. Sedimentation of travertine limestone were formed.The particularity of the Plitvice Lakes is the fact that the lakes are connected. Due to constant change is not possible to separately analyze individual lakes. Water masses of the upper and lower lake system continuously changing lake and surrounding landscape. The new sediments and new continually waterfalls are formed. In general, a complex of lakes is very sensitive and unstable ecosystem.

In geological terms, phenomena design Plitvice Lakes are very young. Complex processes of decomposition of limestone deposition and require special climatic conditions. They have existed since the end of the Ice Age (about 12000-15000 years ago).