In these five points, find out some interesting stories about Plitvice Lakes! And be an expert in the field!
In these five points, find out some interesting stories about Plitvice Lakes! And be an expert in the field!
In these five points, find out an interesting story about Plitvice Lakes! And be an expert in the field! You already know the basic information about Plitvice Lakes, but have you ever heard how fairies actually came into being and live there?
Plitvice Lakes – a magnificent and dynamic face of nature that is constantly transforming. Although science offers an unquestionable answer to the formation of Plitvice Lakes and travertine barriers, karst water has always had mythical features for humans.
Thus, the legend says that after a long drought, the Black Queen took pity on the karst and dropped heavy rain on the ground, and the remaining water created lakes.
Only life can connect stone, water, and forest in such a way. More beautiful than any description, more vivid than the best photo, more amazing than any video – just coming to Plitvice Lakes can leave the full impression of beauty that is on the list of the world’s most famous names of natural beauty.
Plitvice Lakes are located in the east of Lika, between Mala Kapela and Lička Plješivica. They are surrounded by forest and are not at high altitude, so they are completely integrated into the mountain landscape.
The thought of the Plitvice Lakes National Park is first and foremost – lakes, which are the most attractive phenomenon. The protected area of the Park is far larger and covers almost three hundred square kilometers.
Sixteen larger and a considerable number of small lakes are cascaded by waterfalls. The height difference between the first lake, Prošćansko, and the last lake in the series, Novakovića Brod, is 134 meters. The largest amount of water in the lakes bring the Black and White rivers, which join the Matica river, whose waters flow into Lake Prošćansko.
There are two main fields of lakes: Upper Lakes located on a dolomite base, and Lower cut into a limestone canyon. Upper Lakes consists of 12 lakes, among which the two largest lakes of the system, Kozjak, and Prošćansko, Lower lakes account for only a small part of the lake area and represents four lakes.
What is the secret of the Story of Plitvice Lakes? Science reveals that bacteria, algae, and moss are most responsible for their formation. Climatic conditions and places of intensive aeration of water create favorable conditions for the life of these organisms. If the incoming water carries enough dissolved calcium carbonate, which is not uncommon in karst areas, such calcium carbonate with the help of algae, bacteria, and moss is retained and fixed on the surface of already formed travertine barriers and on vegetation in lakes.
Over time, calcium carbonate precipitates from the water, settling like small crystals on the bottom and on these plants, thus forming barriers in the riverbed that grow in layers, creating upstream lakes.
The process is continuous, the lakes are constantly changing, there are submerged barriers in the lakes, as well as those that are yet to grow and rise beyond the water surface. Tufa is actively growing between one and three centimeters a year.
Therefore, the appearance and story of Plitvice Lakes in the present is always just a moment in its future history.
One waterfall on the lakes is different from all the others. It is a waterfall 78 m high and also the highest in Croatia and differs in origin and appearance from the others. He alone does not come from the lake and does not fall into the lake.
The water flowing to the waterfall originates from the Plitvice stream. Falls with its combined force down a vertical limestone rock. In the meantime, most of the Plitvice waterfalls distribute their power in a branched fall. Beneath the last lake, Novakovića Brod, the Sastavci waterfalls form.
The water that collects at the foot of these waterfalls and the water that flows from the Great Waterfall, gives birth to the Korana River which further continues its way blocked by several waterfalls and passing through a canyon of limestone rocks.
The forests on Plitvice Lakes are among the best-preserved forests and there are as many as 11 forest communities. Chorkova uvala is on the top of this list. The trees climb up there and over fifty meters: it is impressive to find oneself under these giants.
The most famous forest inhabitant is certainly the brown bear (Ursus arctos). His movement has been the subject of attention and monitoring for years so we know he regularly leaves the boundaries of the Park. After Bears, in the story of Plitvice we have wolves. Plitvice Forest is an invaluable refuge for beasts.
A rare otter also lives right here. The waters include crayfish (Astacus Astacus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta fario). The flora is also protected, including many species of orchids – as many as sixty species.
Since the lakes are in the karst area, along with the karst phenomena of sinkholes or sinkholes, there are pits and caves. In the limestone part of Plitvice Lakes and in the Korana canyon we find the Black Cave and the cave of Villa Jezerkinja ( Fairy of Lakes)
Once upon a time, on the first maps from the 17th century, the entire Plitvice region people called “Vražji vrtal”(Devil’s Garden).
In the populace, and as the area has historically been a turbulent border towards the Ottoman Empire, the name is consistent with this fact. The first word of that name is history today. The garden of the cascading lakes remained.
A beautiful water procession that you can follow walking along the built paths that do not disturb the life of the lake and the creation of tufa, that sensitive builder who leaves an imposing natural architecture. With this in mind, walk around this astonishing National Park with admiration.
Whichever path you take to Plitvice Lakes, you should keep in mind that you are honored to pass through the most impressive karst area in the world. You are a guest of one of the world’s most valuable protected areas. If you are a legends lover, read more stories of Plitvice Lakes! All in all, not a so ordinary place.