National Parks in Croatia
The eight National Parks of Croatia cover 7.5% of the
country or 994 sq km. Visiting all of the Croatian National Parks gives a
breathtaking array of scenery from forested islands to craggy mountaintops,
waterfalls, lakes and sun-baked islands in the sea. They provide ideal vacation
experiences for active travelers as there seems to be nothing you can't do. Try
scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, biking, swimming and spelunking! Geologically speaking, many of Croatia's National Parks lie
on karst. Karst is highly porous limestone and dolomitic rock
through which water seeps to create underground streams. The terrain is marked
by fissures, caves and springs as well as polje, a basin formed when the
limestone collapses. Here is a summary of Croatia's National Parks: Plitvice Lakes National Park Krka National Park Mljet National Park Risnjak National Park Paklenica National Park Northern Velebit National Park Kornati Islands National Park Brijuni (Brioni) IslandsNational Parks in Croatia
The countless waterfalls and emerald lakes make it Croatia's most visited park.
You can't swim in the lakes but (and because) you can drink the water. Formed
on karst, it's a UNESCO-protected World Heritage Site.
Like a smaller version of Plitvice, Krka has lakes and waterfalls which you can
even swim in. It's more developed and less of a natural paradise than Plitvice.
If other islands seem too touristy, come to Mljet to kick back and enjoy the
forests and inland lakes.
Few people bother to visit Risnjak but they should. The forests once harbored ris
or fox but now the majestic pine and beech trees loom over meandering trails
and flowery meadows where bears sometimes roam.
Cliffs and gorges, grottoes and caves make Paklenica a favorite with your more
energetic types. It's famous throughout Europe for the rock-climbing.
Part of the same Velebit range as Paklenica, here is where you can lose
yourself (literally) in the mountains. Access is only by mountain trail or via
an, ahem, adventurous mountain road from Otocac.
Ask a yachtsman and they'll tell you "The Kornati Islands are the
best". Almost completely uninhabited, this 147-island archipelago provides
endless opportunities for exploration with your own boat or a guided tour.
Agencies in Zadar, Sibenik, Split and Murter arrange visits.
Does nature make you nervous? It's all tamed down in this well-manicured park.
